Arizona Cardinals 2022-2023 Season Preview

Can Kyler Murray and the Cardinals withstand DeAndre Hopkins suspension?

In 2021, the Arizona Cardinals began the season 7-0 and were arguably the best team in the NFL.  During week 8 against the Green Bay Packers, superstar wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins suffered a hamstring injury that sidelined and limited him in the loss and kept him out of the next three games.  During this span, the Cardinals were just 2-2.

 

While Hopkins returned in week 13 and helped lead the Cardinals to victory, he suffered a torn MCL the following week, and was sidelined for the rest of the season.  The Cardinals were 8-2 with Hopkins in the lineup, with both of the losses coming in games he was injured and limited, and just 3-4 in the games without him.

Star quarterback Kyler Murray, who suffered an ankle injury in the loss against the Packers and also missed the following three weeks, saw a dip in his numbers in the final few games, including the postseason, without Hopkins in the lineup.  Murray, who had arguably the worst game of his career in the 34-11 postseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams, will be looking to bounce back in 2022.

Can the Cardinals overcome Hopkins suspension and key free agent departures?

The Cardinals will, once again, be without Hopkins for a stretch in 2022, as the superstar wide receiver will miss the first six games of the season due to a performance enhancing drugs policy violation.  In that time, the Cardinals will face four postseason teams from 2021, so it will be up to Murray to perform at an elite level without Hopkins.

 

Hopkins will not be the only key contributor from 2021 that is noticeably absent when the Cardinals season kicks off.  The Cardinals were unable to retain several key free agents in the offseason, as they lost wide receiver Christian Kirk to the Jacksonville Jaguars, pass rusher Chandler Jones to the Las Vegas Raiders, running back Chase Edmonds to the Miami Dolphins, inside linebacker Jordan Hicks to the Minnesota Vikings, and pass rusher Jordan Phillips to the Buffalo Bills.

 

These losses will leave Murray without his top two receiving threats of the past two seasons for, at least, six games.  The Cardinals were able to retain tight end Zach Ertz, running back James Conner, wide receiver A.J. Green, and offensive guard Justin Pugh.  They also reunited Murray with his college teammate Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, acquiring Brown and a third-round pick from the Baltimore Ravens for their first-round pick.

 

While there has been talk of a potential Murray holdout, it appears likely, particularly after the trade for Brown, that Murray will not holdout.  It is even possible that he receives a contract extension before the season begins, something that Murray would surely like to get out of the way before beginning a season without his best offensive weapon.

 

Currently, the Cardinals Super Bowl odds, +3500, are tied with the Tennessee Titans for 15th-best in the NFL.  Their odds to win the NFC and reach the Super Bowl, +2000, are tied with the Minnesota Vikings for 7th-best in the conference, trailing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Green Bay Packers, Los Angeles Rams, San Francisco 49ers, Dallas Cowboys, and Philadelphia Eagles.

 

The Cardinals, who were 11-6 in 2021, are currently being given an over/under win total of just 8.5, while their odds of returning to the postseason for the second straight season sit at +125.  They currently have the third-highest odds, +400, to win the NFC West, trailing the Rams and 49ers.  This isn’t surprising considering that the Rams won the Super Bowl in 2021, while the 49ers advanced all the way to the NFC Conference Championship.  As for Murray, his +2000 odds to take home the NFL MVP is good for 10th-best in the league, tied with Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson and Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts.  If Murray can keep the Cardinals in the playoff hunt, without Hopkins, it is likely that the quarterback could pick up some MVP votes, as the narrative will certainly be there.

 

While the Cardinals will count on Murray to play at an elite level to keep them afloat in Hopkins absence, it may be too tall of a task considering their opponents in that stretch, as well as, the division that they play in.  Fortunately for the Cardinals, the NFC, as a conference, isn’t very strong, so they may be able to climb out of any hole they find themselves in once Hopkins returns and their schedule weakens.  Hopkins’ first two games back, against two playoff hopefuls, the New Orleans Saints and Vikings, will go a long way to determining if they make the postseason.