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The Commanders dodged another bullet this Memorial Day weekend.
With the season opener being a game where the Arizona Cardinals will come to FedEx Field, it was already known that quarterback Kyler Murray is injured and likely out early in the season.
Friday, the Cardinals released arguably their second most productive offensive player, DeAndre Hopkins. The move is a puzzling move in one sense. The result of this move means the Cardinals will take a $22.6 million cap hit for 2023.
Murray was injured in a December game against the Patriots, in which he tore an ACL and meniscus. Murray had the surgery, it was successful, but it remains a real possibility Murray could miss most of the 2023 season.
This means for the season opener the Cardinals will come to the DMV without both Murray and now Hopkins. In one sense Commanders fans can feel good they won’t have to face Hopkins in the opener.
.@AZCardinals @DeAndreHopkins runs every route; knows every trick. Whose passing game is going to get dramatically better? #BaldysBreakdowns pic.twitter.com/Qn8wwm0HAc
— Brian Baldinger (@BaldyNFL) May 26, 2023
However, the 10-year veteran will be free on the open market. Hopkins will turn 31 in June, and he may be wanting to limit his options to teams who are contenders for a trip to the Super Bowl.
The Bills, Chiefs and Jets have been listed as the top teams who have a shot at signing Hopkins. The Commanders play both the Bills and the Jets. Other likely candidates who are also on the Commanders 2023 schedule are the Patriots and yes, all three NFC East rivals.
Which means the Commanders have avoided Hopkins on opening day; however, they may actually have to defend against him twice in the 2023 season, were he to sign with the Cowboys, Eagles or Giants.
Be on the lookout; things can change so quickly in the NFL.