The Arizona Cardinals were once the hottest team in the NFL.
They are now 10-3, which is not bad at all, and in a fight for the top spot in the NFC.
But they did suffer a loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday and were dealt an even bigger loss following the game.
DeAndre Hopkins is reportedly set to miss the rest of the regular season.
Cardinals’ WR DeAndre Hopkins is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a sprained knee, but the team is hopeful to get him back at some point in the postseason, leagues sources tell me and @JFowlerESPN.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2021
That is a huge blow to a Cardinals offense that was finally healthy again with Hopkins and Kyler Murray both back on the field.
The Rest Of The Way
Winning the NFC and getting the lone bye in the conference is now even more important if Hopkins is on a timetable with this knee sprain.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter offered a further update, but it still appears Hopkins is done for the regular season.
Hopkins is seeking a second opinion with Dr. Neal ElAttrache. It is still uncertain whether Hopkins will need surgery. But either way, his regular is believed to have to come an end.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 15, 2021
Hopkins has appeared in 10 games this season and leads the team with eight receiving touchdowns.
More than that, he is one of the top receivers in the game and his absence is notable down the stretch.
The Cardinals have four games remaining this season and enter Week 15 tied with the Green Bay Packers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the top spot in the NFC.
Yet Arizona is third in that tiebreaker scenario for now.
In the division, they hold a one-game lead over the Rams and have now split the season series.
One bit of good news as the Cardinals navigate Hopkins’ absence is that they get the Detroit Lions this weekend.
After that they face the Indianapolis Colts, Dallas Cowboys, and Seattle Seahawks.
All of those final three games could go either way.
The Cardinals still have talented wideouts in Christian Kirk and A.J. Green, while Zach Ertz has been a great addition as well.
They just all have to come together to avoid any major drop-off on offense without their star.
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