GLENDALE (Arizona) -- DeAndre Hopkins, wide receiver for the Arizona Cardinals, was not allowed to play after he injured his hamstring during practice against the Green Bay Packers.
Hopkins had other plans.
Kingsbury stated Hopkins was able to get back into the game after he had sat out for more than two quarters while he ran sprints along the sideline to test his hamstring. Kingsbury expressed disappointment with Hopkins' decision after the Cardinals' loss to the Packers 24-21.
Kingsbury stated that although we wanted him to leave the field, he kept running. He was clearly hurting, but he wanted to play.
Hopkins pulled his hamstring while catching a 61 yard pass for a touchdown at 8:18 in the first quarter. The penalty was imposed by Hopkins' facemask. He did not return to the field until the 8:15 mark in the third quarter, which was a span of thirty minutes.
Hopkins only played 13 snaps, but he gave the Cardinals an edge when he was on field. Arizona averaged 10.9 yards per pass when Hopkins played, versus 4.6 yards per pass when he didn’t.
Kingsbury stated, "He wants out there." He is as competitive as anyone I know, and he made some plays. We still have many games to play so we are trying to be intelligent with him.
Hopkins was present for the Cardinals' last offensive play. Murray intercepted a pass from the Packers at the 5-yard line with 15 seconds remaining. It was intended to A.J. Green. Murray and Kingsbury both said that the pick was due to a "miscommunication" because Green didn't know that the pass was coming.
Green did not turn his helmet as the ball flew by him and into Rasul Douglas' arms, Green Bay's cornerback for Packers.
Murray stated that he didn't know what had happened during the play. Kingsbury however, said that it was audible. Arizona was able to get the one-on-1 look it desired with Green, the only receiver split wide.
Kingsbury stated, "It wasn’t the route we thought we had tried." "So, we were able to communicate better in these situations."
Murray was rolled up during the play. Murray was taken to the trainers and left limping. Murray said he felt "good" after the match, but he was wearing a walking boot on the left leg when he left the stadium.
