DeAndre Hopkins ‘Shocked’ By PED Suspension Handed Down From NFL

DeAndre Hopkins was the subject of some bad news for Cardinals fans on Monday afternoon.

It was reported that the NFL was suspending the superstar receiver for the first six games of the upcoming season for violating the league’s rules on PEDs.

Cardinals’ Pro-Bowl WR DeAndre Hopkins is being suspended six games for violating the NFL’s Performance Enhancing Drug policy, league sources tell ESPN. pic.twitter.com/hNGNX4Aegx

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 2, 2022

Later in the day, DeAndre Hopkins’ manager, Doug Sanders, texted Adam Schefter to provide a statement on the suspension.

“DeAndre and everyone who works with him is completely shocked by this finding because he is extremely diligent about what he puts into his body,” Sanders said. “His October and December tests were negative and we are investigating how the November test came back positive.

“DeAndre is committed to demonstrating that he did not knowingly take a banned substance. He has never once tested positive throughout his 10-year career.”

DeAndre Hopkins’ brand manager, Doug Sanders, texted this tonight about his client, who was suspended six games earlier in the day: pic.twitter.com/gHlZMKrSQM

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 3, 2022

While DeAndre Hopkins maintains he did not know he was putting anything illegal into his body, NFL insider Ian Rapoport said earlier today that he would not be appealing his suspension.

Now, the Cardinals’ decision to draft a few more options for Kyler Murray this weekend makes a little bit more sense.

Luckily for Arizona, they’ll still have the receiving core of Hollywood Brown, AJ Green, Rondale Moore etc. to make plays for the first six games of the season. But they’ll undoubtedly miss a guy as dominant as DeAndre Hopkins.

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