Cardinals' Hopkins banned six games
Arizona Cardinals threetime All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins has been suspended without pay for six games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances, the league announced on Monday.
It’s a stunning blow for the Cardinals, who finished with an 11-6 record last season but faded down the stretch when Hopkins was out of the lineup because of injuries. Now they’ll be without the 29-year-old for a big chunk of the upcoming season.
Hopkins played in 10 games last season, catching 42 passes for 572 yards and eight touchdowns. He missed much of the last half of the season — including the team’s playoff loss to the Rams — because of hamstring and knee injuries.
The Cardinals added a receiver during last week’s NFL draft, acquiring Marquise Brown from the Ravens for the No. 23 overall pick. Brown was a 1,000-yard receiver last season.
Hopkins’ suspension also likely means a bigger role for Brown, veteran A.J. Green and second-year standout Rondale Moore, along with tight end Zach Ertz, during the season’s first six weeks.
Hopkins has been one of the league’s most productive receivers during his nine-year career, which includes six 1,000-yard seasons. He played his first seven seasons with the Texans before being traded in 2020 to the Cardinals.
Chargers decline tackle Tillery’s fifth-year option
The Chargers have declined to pick up the fifth-year option on defensive tackle Jerry Tillery.
Tillery, the 28th overall pick in the 2019 draft, has started 29 games over the first three years of his career. He started 15 of 16 games last season and had a career-high 4½ sacks along with 14 quarterback hits. He also had 51 tackles.
Tillery though has been penalized 13 times over the past two seasons, which is tied for third among NFL defensive linemen.
“Jerry had a really nice role for us last year. I expect an even bigger role this year,” general manager Tom Telesco said about Tillery last week.
This marks the first time since Telesco became general manager in 2013 that the Chargers have not picked up the fifth-year option on a player he has drafted.
Falcons release Davis after tough season
After a disappointing season with his hometown team, running back Mike Davis was being released by the Atlanta Falcons, a person familiar with the move said.
Davis confirmed it in a social media post, thanking the Falcons.
The move was not surprising for a team dealing with salary cap woes, especially after the 29-year-old Davis rushed for just 503 yards and three touchdowns last season. He averaged 3.6 yards per carry.
The Falcons signaled they were moving in a different direction during last week’s draft, picking BYU running back Tyler Allgeier in the fifth round.
The team also re-signed Cordarrelle Patterson, who became one of the team’s biggest offensive options lining up at both running back and receiver.
Davis was hoping to make big impact with the Falcons after signing a $5.5 million, two-year deal ahead of the 2021 season.
He was coming off the best year of his career with Carolina. He led the Panthers with 642 yards rushing and six touchdowns in 2020, while also proving to be an effective weapon in the passing game with 59 catches for 373 yards and two TDs.
Atlanta is now in a fullfledged rebuilding mode after trading longtime quarterback Matt Ryan to the Indianapolis Colts and learning that receiver Calvin Ridley, who missed most of last season dealing with mental health issues, will be suspended for all of 2022 for betting on NFL games while away from the team.
The Falcons signed Marcus Mariota to take over as the new starting quarterback, selected USC receiver Drake London at No. 8 overall in the draft, claimed Cincinnati QB Desmond Ridder in the third round, and went heavy on offense during the final day of the draft with Allgeier leading the way.
The 5-foot-11, 224 back set BYU records with 276 carries and 1,601 yards rushing in 2021. He tied for for the national lead with 23 touchdowns on the ground.
The Falcons also signed running back Damien Williams.