ARIZONA CARDINALS
Cardinals shut down Hopkins, McCoy; will start QB Blough vs. 49ers
Jan 4, 2023, 12:46 PM
Tom Brady and DeAndre Hopkins (Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)
(Arizona Sports Photo/Jeremy Schnell)
The Arizona Cardinals will play Sunday without receiver DeAndre Hopkins in their season finale against the San Francisco 49ers, head coach Kliff Kingsbury told reporters Wednesday.
Additionally, quarterback David Blough will make his second start in a row as Arizona has opted to shut down backup quarterback Colt McCoy.
Hopkins missed the Cardinals’ Sunday loss to the Atlanta Falcons with a knee injury. His season ends with 717 receiving yards on 64 catches and three touchdowns.
For the second year in a row, Hopkins did not surpass 10 games played. His 1,289 receiving yards in 19 games over the past two seasons falls short of the 1,407-yard 2020 campaign of 16 games played.
McCoy had been dealing with concussion symptoms for the past two weeks.
He threw for 780 yards, one touchdown and three picks in relief of starter Kyler Murray, who Kingsbury said underwent a knee procedure to repair an ACL tear on Tuesday.
Blough went 24-of-40 for 222 yards, a touchdown and no turnovers in a 20-19 loss to the Falcons last Sunday. It was his first start for Arizona.
The 27-year-old joined the Cardinals on Dec. 14 after being signed off the Minnesota Vikings’ practice squad. He could have a shot to impress the team, who likely will not have Murray healthy to begin the 2023 regular season.
Among Blough’s targets available in the season finale is receiver Marquise Brown, who Kingsbury said is expected to play after dealing with a wrist injury in the past week.
