DeAndre Hopkins is dealing with a knee injury and the wide receiver was getting a second opinion on the issue following an initial MRI Monday, coach Kliff Kingsbury said Tuesday.
Kingsbury said it was too early to know if Hopkins would miss time, but any time a second opinion is involved doesn't produce a lot of optimism. ESPN reported later Wednesday that Hopkins is expected to miss the rest of the regular season with a sprained knee.
Hopkins had five catches for 54 yards against the Rams Monday night, as quarterback Kyler Murray targeted him 12 times. On the final target, a heave into double coverage in the end zone with a little more than a minute to go, both Rams defenders landed on Hopkins' legs. Hopkins rolled over to his stomach, putting his hands on his helmet in apparent distress.
He was not in the game for the team's final last-ditch, post-onside kick drive and was seen on the sideline trying to work out his knee.
It's been an odd season for the team's best wideout. Hopkins has a team-best eight touchdowns catches despite missing three games, but has yet to surpass 100 yards in a game as the Cardinals moved to a much more balanced passing game. On the year Hopkins has 42 receptions for 572 yards, tied for third on the team in receptions (with A.J. Green, behind Christian Kirk and Rondale Moore) and third on the team in yards, behind Kirk and Green.
In his career he had missed only two games, and never more than one in a season. Now he could have more missed time after the three games he was out with a hamstring injury last month.
If Hopkins misses time, it's expected that Antoine Wesley, who was Hopkins' main fill-in when he missed games earlier, would re-emerge in that role.
Kingsbury also called running back James Conner day-to-day on Wednesday after Conner had an MRI on his ankle.
The Cardinals injury report Wednesday grew significantly after the Monday game. The team only had a walkthrough, but six players were listed as DNP -- Hopkins, Conner, cornerback Robert Alford (pectoral), and defensive linemen Leki Fotu (shoulder), Corey Peters knee) and Zach Kerr (ribs).
Defensive lineman Jordan Phillips (thumb) and guard Justin Pugh (calf) were listed as limited.
