Arizona Cardinals star WR DeAndre Hopkins has been suspended for six games for breaking the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing drugs, reported by Josh Weinfuss for ESPN. Hopkins management team reached out to ESPN’s Adam Schefter to describe the situation. In November, they reached out saying “trace elements of a banned substance,” however, the test in both months before and after resulted in a negative.
Hopkins addressed the situation in a tweet explaining his confusion and frustration. However, he would deal with the consequences and he’d be ready for week seven of the 2022-23 NFL regular season.
“I was surprised and confused,” Hopkins tweeted. “I always prioritize my health and take a holistic approach. I am currently working with my team to understand how this happened.
“But it’s clear that I have to be more careful. I’m sorry to Cardinals fans, my teammates, and the entire organization. I never want to let down my team. I am determined to investigate this thoroughly. Once I have more details, I will provide an update.”
See you Week 7. pic.twitter.com/rHTofEx7jK
— Deandre Hopkins (@DeAndreHopkins) May 3, 2022
How Will the Suspension affect the Arizona Cardinals
The suspension comes not even a week after the Cardinals inquire the speedster Marquise “Hollywood” Brown. While Hopkins cannot play for the first six regular-season games, he’s eligible to play throughout the preseason and practice with the team until the start of week one of the regular season. The three-time Pro Bowler turns 30 in June and is coming off a season-ending injury. Ultimately, holding him to the lowest averages of his career.
Deandre Hopkins’s injury history doesn’t show this is a common theme but this has been more frequent as often. This only makes sense due to his age and minor injuries that’s taken place in his past. It may all be finally catching up to the aging WR. Yet, when healthy he’s proven he can be one of the most dominant forces throughout the NFL.
Hopkin’s Past Injuries
In 2021, Hopkins sat out three games in the middle of the season because of a hamstring injury, followed by missing the last four games due to an MCL injury. Not to mention, the embarrassing loss to the Los Angeles Rams the Cardinals took in the wild-card round of the playoffs.
Hopkins recorded 572 yards and eight touchdowns on 42 catches, in 2021. However, just the season prior, he recorded 1,407 yards before the injuries occurred. Hopkins has played with the Cardinals for only two seasons. Since inquiring the WR from the Houston Texans in 2020, he’s managed to catch 157 passes for 1,979 yards and 14 touchdowns.
