DeAndre Hopkins officially activated, Cardinals release K Matt Ammendola

Arizona Cardinals receiver DeAndre Hopkins was officially activated to the 53-man roster Monday coming off a six-game PED suspension. The team opened the spot after it released kicker Matt Ammendola, who spent two weeks on the job.

Hopkins joins an underwhelming passing attacking heading into a Thursday Night Football game against the New Orleans Saints. The team’s 226.7 air yards per contest ranks 17th in the NFL through six games, and Arizona just lost Marquise Brown to a foot injury suffered Sunday that is reportedly keeping him out about six weeks, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.

Hopkins, who six times in eight NFL seasons has surpassed 1,000 yards, recorded 572 yards in 10 games last year as the Cardinals started 8-2.

He went for 1,407 yards during 2020, his first year with the Cardinals.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals move on from Ammendola, who has played the past two weeks in relief of starting kicker Matt Prater (hip). Ammendola missed an extra point in a 19-9 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.

Ammendola went 2-for-3 on field goals and the same mark on extra points for Arizona.

His field-goal miss was a 43-yarder two weeks ago in the final seconds that, if made, would have sent the game into overtime against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Ammendola also missed a field goal and extra point in a game as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs this season. That performance led to him being cut despite the Chiefs’ regular kicker, Harrison Butker, not yet being healthy.

Cardinals head coach Kliff Kingsbury admitted the team went for it five times on fourth downs Sunday, converting four, because of the kicking situation.

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