Hopkins will have surgery on torn MCL

Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins is set for surgery to repair a torn MCL, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport. Hopkins is expected to be sidelined for 6 weeks, so he'll probably need Arizona to reach the NFC Championship to have a chance to play again this season. The last 2 games Hopkins missed, the Cardinals used A.J. Green and Antoine Wesley as their primary outside WRs, with Christian Kirk in the slot.

The Cardinals plan to limit WR DeAndre Hopkins' reps in training camp. Hopkins underwent surgery to repair a torn MCL in December and is suspended for the first 6 games of this season. "We're trying to come up with a great plan that rolls right up to Week 7 of the season and make sure we're smart about it," HC Kliff Kingsbury said. "But, the main thing I don't want him to do is ramp up, make a bunch of plays in training camp, do this, practice really hard and then six weeks he's not doing anything." Hopkins still boasts WR1 upside for the final two-thirds of the season. His recent FFPC ADP is sitting in early Round 9.

Cardinals HC Kliff Kingsbury expects WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee) to be a "full go" for training camp. His 2021 season ended in Week 14 with a torn MCL that required surgery. That came with a 6-week timetable for return, so his status for the start of 2022 camp was never in question. Hopkins, of course, is suspended for the first 6 games of the upcoming season for violating the league's PED policy.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the NFL is suspending Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins 6 games for violating the PED policy. Assuming he doesn't get it reduced on appeal, Hopkins' absence creates season-opening opportunity for Arizona WRs Marquise Brown, A.J. Green and Rondale Moore -- and it delivers a big blow to any best-ball drafters who combined Hopkins with QB Kyler Murray on their early rosters. We'll watch for any further developments with the situation, but Hopkins obviously tumbles down our WR rankings.

ESPN's Adam Schefter hears that Cardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins (knee) "could be back" for the NFC Championship or Super Bowl, but that it'd be "unrealistic" to expect him back any sooner. That jibes with the 6-week timetable for return we got for Hopkins earlier this week. We'll see how Arizona deploys WRs Christian Kirk, A.J. Green, Rondale Moore and Antoine Wesley vs. the Lions today.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports that the Cardinals expect WR DeAndre Hopkins to miss the rest of the regular season with a knee sprain. The team is "hopeful to get him back at some point in the postseason." It's worth noting here that NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reports that Hopkins is "expected to miss Sunday and likely more." Those 2 reports don't necessarily clash, but might be reason to wait before dropping Hopkins from your roster right away if you can help it. However long he's out, Hopkins' absence can only help the target outlooks for the team's other pass-catchers. Christian Kirk and A.J. Green both look like top-30 options across fantasy formats for Sunday's game at Detroit.