Dec 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) reacts after a pass was deflected by the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic Dec 13, 2021; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (10) reacts after a pass was deflected by the Los Angeles Rams during the second quarter at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Michael Chow-Arizona Republic Nfl Los Angeles Rams At Arizona Cardinals

The NFL world is in shock to find out that Arizona Cardinals wideout DeAndre Hopkins will have to sit out the first six games of the 2022 season for violating the NFL drug policy, according to ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter.

Schefter also added some more information concerning the Hopkins situation.

From the looks and sounds of it, the Cardinals may have known this was coming and were preparing themselves with the trade they made the other night for former Baltimore Ravens wideout Marquise Brown.

Still, this news was a stunner for many around the league.

This was not the news the Cardinals needed to hear going into the 2022 NFL season. The team, the coaching staff, and its players seem to be on notice that if they and head coach Kliff Kingsbury don’t get their act together, there will be some major changes made the following year.

Hopkins, who was traded from the Houston Texans back in 2020, plays a major part in this Cardinals offense and a lot is expected of him and quarterback Kyler Murray. After having over 1400 yards in 2020, Hopkins only caught eight touchdown passes and had 572 yards receiving in 2021.

It will be interesting to see how his absence will affect the Cardinals this year. Although some fans are amused by the situation.

[Adam Schefter]

About Stacey Mickles

Stacey is a 1995 graduate of the University of Alabama who has previously worked for other publications such as Sportskeeda and Saturday Down South.