Cardinals believe other WRs will step up
Passing game will miss injured star Hopkins
The loss of DeAndre Hopkins in Weeks 9 through 11 was bad for the Cardinals, even though they went 2-1 without him in November.
It's unequivocally worse he's out for the last quarter of their regular season schedule as they're trying to win their first NFC West title in six years and earn a playoff top seed.
After reports surfaced on Wednesday that Hopkins will be sidelined again for the Cardinals' last four regular season games, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported on Thursday that Hopkins is likely heading toward the Reserve/Injured list after his scheduled knee surgery by esteemed surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache.
The surgery, which will be done after meeting with ElAttrache in the coming days, is the only option to stabilize Hopkins' "badly torn MCL" for a potential late January return during the postseason.
Hopkins suffered the knee injury in the Cardinals' loss to Los Angeles Rams on Monday night, his second game back after his hamstring kept him out in November.
Kyler Murray said to the media on Thursday that losing their best playmaking receiver is a "big hit" to the Cardinals offense.
"That's a guy we we all love and trust out there on the field," Murray said. "When I was out, he was out and the guys stepped up. I think that's something great teams do. This is a long season. Not all the time are you gonna make it to the end with your full army."
The positive is Murray is back to playing solid after his ankle injury sidelined him alongside Hopkins for three consecutive games last month.
Plus, Murray said he's confident in the Cardinals' depth in both their receivers (WRs A.J. Green, Christian Kirk, Rondale Moore, Antoine Wesley, and tight end Zach Ertz) and running back rooms (James Conner, Eno Benjamin, Jonathan Ward and starter Chase Edmonds after he 's activated from injury reserve).
Green repeatedly told the media "it sucks" to lose Hopkins and, "You can't replace him, but we have a great group of guys." He added that he's spoken to Hopkins, who's "in great spirits" amid his knee injury and pending surgery.
Hopkins' loss impacts Lions defense
The Cardinals' final stretch of games begin at the Detroit Lions (1-11-1) Sunday.
Cardinals defensive coordinator Vance Joseph spoke to the media on Thursday before the Cardinals practice about how Hopkins' absence could possibly impact the Lions' defensive game plan.
"Hop’s a top guy. So when you don’t have Hop out there, it kind of changes your perspective as far as the pass downs and having a plan to have two guys on him or have top-down coverage on him," Joseph said. “That goes away if you have one guy like that. Now, we have multiple guys, so that plan probably won’t go away, but obviously not having your best receiver, game-planning against guys like that, it makes it a little easier.”
Cards OL Hudson on COVID-19 list
Cardinals starting center Rodney Hudson was put on the Reserve/COVID-19 list on Thursday.
He's the first Cardinals player to test positive since they faced the Rams, who are dealing with their COVID outbreak since last week.
On Monday, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury said the team had no reported COVID-19 cases and are "status quo" after the Rams entered the league's intensive protocols. The Rams shut down their practice facility on Tuesday after they put nine players on the COVID list that day. They have 14 on the list as of Thursday.
The Cardinals, who've had an NFLhigh 26 players placed on the COVID list since training camp in July, haven't had a player in the protocols since Green was removed on Nov. 11.
Joseph says home field advantage doesn't matter
Joseph said on Thursday the Cardinals’ home record, 3-3, is "not that good." That reiterates his point from the week after they lost to the Carolina Panthers on Nov. 14 "to be a dominant team in this league, home games have to be your advantage."
But the Cardinals been the NFL's best road team this season, unbeaten at 7-0.
If the Cardinals finish the regular season earning a playoff first-round bye and home field advantage, that could cause concern based on their mediocre home performances compared to their road play.
But to Joseph, whether they're at home or on the road, their energy comes from making big plays “on our terms.”
“Home field or being on the road, it doesn’t matter for players and coaches," Joseph said. "It should not matter for us, right? It’s about the process of getting ready to play. It’s about not giving up big plays. It’s about playing your best ball. We can’t fall for home or away, it doesn’t matter.
"When that ball’s kicked, making plays and doing your job, not giving plays away is the key, and that’s in Arizona or wherever we go. We don’t care about that. That’s not being preached here."
Lions' top receiver Hockenson out vs. Cardinals
Similar to the Cardinals, Detroit won't have their best receiver for the rest of the regular season.
Pro Bowl TE T.J. Hockenson will be out against Arizona after his thumb surgery on Thursday, per ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Hockenson is expected to be fully recovered in time for the off-season program.
Injury report
The Cardinals had their first of two practices this week on Thursday. In addition to Hopkins, defensive linemen Corey Peters (knee) and Zach Kerr (ribs), left guard Justin Pugh (calf/illness), Conner (ankle), CB Robert Alford (pectoral) did not practice. Two DLs Leki Fotu (shoulder) and Jordan Phillips (thumb) were limited.
Besides Hockenson, Lions tackle Will Holden (personal), guard Jonah Jackson (back), LB Julian Okwara (ankle), and RB D'Andre Swift (shoulder) weren't at practice. LBs Alex Anzalone (ankle) and Jalen Reeves-Maybin (shoulder), defensive end Michael Brockers (knee), and WR Josh Reynolds (thigh) were limited. LBs Derrick Barnes (knee), Austin Bryant (shoulder), and tackle Penei Sewell (shoulder) were full participants.