The Cardinals’ one-two punch will be in action vs. Patriots
98.5 The Sports Hub staff report
The Cardinals will have their top two weapons in action for Sunday’s head-to-head with the Patriots, as both Kyler Murray and DeAndre Hopkins were removed from Friday’s injury report.
In the case of Murray, who is dealing with a right shoulder injury suffered in last week’s Thursday Night Football meeting with the Seahawks, his removal from the injury report comes after he was a full participant in Friday’s practice session. Murray was limited on both Wednesday and Thursday before Friday’s step forward.
The second-year pro has been among football’s most dangerous weapons this season, with 19 passing touchdowns and 10 rushing scores, and 3,263 total yards (2,644 passing, 619 rushing), through 10 games in 2020.
Oct 25, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) prior to the game against the Seattle Seahawks at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Billy Hardiman-USA TODAY Sports
Hopkins, meanwhile, is a go for Sunday’s contest after he got in back-to-back full participation efforts after missing Wednesday’s practice due to illness.
In Arizona after seven seasons with the Texans, Hopkins has once again shined as one of the league’s top wideouts, with 72 grabs for 912 yards and four touchdowns in 10 games. His 72 catches are the third-most in the NFL, and his 912 yards trail only Washington’s Terry McLaurin (963) for the league lead.
“DeAndre is, again, one of the top receivers in the league,” Patriots coach Bill Belichick said Friday. “He’s had tremendous production since he’s come into the league, really right there with Julio Jones. Those two guys have been extremely, extremely productive. Hopkins has great hands. He has tremendous ball skills and good length. He has the ability to catch almost everything that’s around him, even when he’s covered.
“[Kyler] Murray does a good job of reading that and getting the ball to him. So, he’s had a tremendous career and shows no signs of slowing down or being any less productive than what we saw from him in Houston.”
The Patriots, meanwhile, will enter action without Isaiah Wynn available, but appear in line to get running back Sony Michel back in action for the first time since Sept. 27. And as is the case for every game remaining on their schedule, the Patriots by all means need a victory to keep their extraordinarily slim playoff hopes alive.
Listen to 98.5 The Sports Hub dot com’s Matt Dolloff and Alex Barth preview this Sunday’s tilt below…
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