The Arizona Cardinals are coming out of their Week 12 bye refreshed and looking more like the team that started the year 7-0 with quarterback Kyler Murray and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins both set to return to action against the Chicago Bears.
Murray and Hopkins were both injured during a 24-21 loss to the Green Bay Packers in October and have been sidelined for the Cardinals’ last three games. While they were each ruled questionable to return in Week 13, coach Kliff Kingsbury removed any doubt Sunday morning when he told Stacey Dales of NFL Network that they’d return to the lineup.
Murray, 24, suffered an ankle injury in the final plays of the loss to the Packers. In the first eight games of the season, Murray threw 17 touchdowns with seven interceptions and completed a league-high 72.7 percent of his passes. Drew Brees is the only player in NFL history to finish a season with a completion percentage over 72, which he did three times in his career with the New Orleans Saints.
Hopkins, 29, exited earlier in the game against the Packers after aggravating a preexisting hamstring injury. While he caught seven touchdowns in the first seven games, Hopkins has just 35 receptions, well below his typical reception per game rate.
The Cardinals still managed to go 2-1 in the absence of the two stars with Colt McCoy starting at quarterback. Arizona currently has the best record in the NFL at 9-2 and a two-game lead in the NFC West over the 7-4 Los Angeles Rams.
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
