The biggest storyline for the Arizona Cardinals entering their Week 7 home game against the New Orleans Saints on Thursday night is the return of wider receiver DeAndre Hopkins, who was reinstated to the active roster following the completion of his six-game suspension.
He was suspended for testing positive for a banned performance-enhancing substance.
Now he returns but it comes on a short week and the Cardinals will not hold a full-speed regular practice before their Thursday night game against the Saints.
Without full practice and no work with the team since before the season, no one knows what he can give the Cardinals in his season debut, but his last two season debuts for the Cardinals have been noteworthy.
In 2020, when he made his Cardinals debut in Week 1, he had a career-high 14 receptions for 151 yards.
Last season, the numbers weren’t as gaudy but he had six catches for 80 yards but scored two touchdowns.
Even his 2019 debut for the Houston Texans was great. He had eight catches for 111 yards and two touchdowns.
It is Game 7 for the Cardinals and Hopkins has been out for six weeks without practicing with the team, but we can probably expect something big from him this week. If not special, it should be at least memorable.
He has had 30 catches, 342 yards and four touchdowns in his last three season debuts. Expect a big game from him against the Saints.
Kickoff is Thursday at 5:15 p.m. Arizona time at State Farm Stadium. It will be exciting to see.
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