Report: DeAndre Hopkins makes critical decision on fighting NFL suspension for performance-enhancing substances

DeAndrew Hopkins will not suit up for the Arizona Cardinals to begin the season, being suspended for the first six games. The wide receiver violated the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances and will miss over a third of the 2022 season.

As there is with every decision within the NFL, Hopkins could have appealed the suspension and tried to reduce the number of games. However, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, he has decided against doing so and Hopkins will accept his six-game suspension.

“#AZCardinals WR DeAndre Hopkins withdrew his appeal, source said,” Rapoport said via Twitter. “So, now official: Hopkins is suspended without pay for the first six games of the 2022 regular season for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing substances.”

The NFL has not released the 2022 season schedule yet. Exactly what teams Hopkins will not be playing against is not known at this moment. However, it’s still a significant portion of the year and when competing in the NFC West — including the reigning Super Bowl champions, the Los Angeles Rams — every game is going to count.

DeAndre Hopkins suspended six games by NFL

According to a report from ESPN’s Adam Schefter, wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins will miss the first six games of the 2022 NFL season thanks to a suspension. The Arizona Cardinals will now have to play nearly a third of the season without one of their biggest offensive weapons.

“Cardinals’ Pro-Bowl WR DeAndre Hopkins is being suspended six games for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Drug policy, league sources tell ESPN,” Schefter said.

Hopkins is entering his third season in Arizona after being traded from the Houston Texans. He and quarterback Kyler Murray developed a solid relationship instantly, becoming a top duo under head coach Kliff Kingsbury. Now, the duo will be without each other for quite some time, dating back to an injury late last season.

Since Hopkins arrived in Arizona, he has caught 157 passes for 1,979 yards and 17 touchdowns. Widely regarded as one of the top wide receivers in the NFL, a major hole will be in the middle of the Cardinals’ offense.

Arizona will be hoping once Hopkins serves his suspension and returns better than ever. Murray will now have him and Brown to throw at, creating one of the league’s top wide receiving cores. Kingsbury knows how to get points on the board and the job becomes that much easier with the weapons he has at his disposal.