Arizona Cardinals’ DeAndre Hopkins, James Conner to undergo MRIs
Dec 14, 2021, 2:18 PM | Updated: 3:44 pm
James Conner #6 celebrates with DeAndre Hopkins #10 of the Arizona Cardinals after a touchdown during the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on September 12, 2021 in Nashville, Tennessee. The Cardinals defeated the Titans 38-13. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
(Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)
On top of being on the wrong of Monday night’s matchup against the Los Angeles Rams, the Arizona Cardinals enter Week 15 banged up.
Both wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (leg) and running back James Conner (ankle) are set to undergo MRIs on Tuesday, head coach Kliff Kingsbury said Tuesday.
At the end of the Cardinals’ second-to-last drive on Monday night, Hopkins went up for a jump ball and got up slowly before heading to the sideline. He was not in for Arizona’s last drive.
Hopkins has had bad luck in the injury department this season, missing three games with a hamstring issue.
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Conner was seen limping after making a nine-yard catch with 26 seconds left to play.
The running back was slow to get up before limping to the backfield. He stayed in for that final play but hardly moved before gingerly walking to the locker room after QB Kyler Murray was sacked to end the game.
It would be a tough blow to the Cardinals offense if Conner and Hopkins were to miss time.
Conner has proven to be one of general manager Steve Keim’s biggest offseason steals in 2021, especially with Chase Edmonds still sidelined with an ankle issue. Through 13 games, the running back is pacing the team in rushing yards (661) and touchdowns (14).
“I can’t say enough good things about James and what he’s meant to us since he’s been here,” Kingsbury said Tuesday. “We’ve probably played him too many snaps since Chase has been out but he’s held up and has done a tremendous job with those opportunities.
“I think it’ll be good for James to get Chase back in and take some of those snaps off of him. I think he’ll be more fresh for this stretch run and be able to finish games and feel good about it.”
Conner’s production hasn’t stopped on the ground, either, with the running back posting 29 catches for 303 yards and two scores.
Hopkins hasn’t been his typical productive self in terms of receiving yards, recording 572 yards on 42 catches, but he has found pay dirt at an impressive rate with eight touchdowns in 10 games.
