Larry Fitzgerald: Kyler can be the Cardinals' backup in DeAndre Hopkins absence

All-Pro receiver DeAndre Holmes missed eight games last year, when the Cardinals went 3-5, which included the loss to the Rams in the wild-card playoffs.

Larry Fitzgerald: Kyler can be the Cardinals' backup in DeAndre Hopkins absence

All-Pro receiver DeAndre Holmes missed eight games last year, when the Cardinals went 3-5, which included the loss to the Rams in the wild-card playoffs. The Cardinals won't have Hopkins for the first six games of this season after he violated the NFL's performance-enhancing drug policy.

Larry Fitzgerald, a former Cardinals receiver, expressed confidence that Kyler Murray would step up to keep the team competitive in the first six games.

Fitzgerald stated that the schedule was difficult early in the season to MJ Acosta Ruiz, NFL Media. "I know they won't have Hop, but Kyler has the capability and fortitude to lift this team."

In the games Hopkins will not be able to attend, the Cardinals face the Chiefs Raiders, Rams Raiders, Rams Panthers Eagles and Seahawks. Murray will have to rely on Marquise Brown and A.J. Murray will have to make do with Rondale Moore and Marquise Brown, who are among many others. Murray has Zach Ertz, a tight end, and James Conner as running backs to lean on.

Fitzgerald spoke highly of Murray, who was a friend in 2019-20. He's a tremendous talent. Everybody in the league needs to prepare for him differently. You bring in Brown; Zach Ertz is now entering his second year. He's better acquainted with the system. James Conner is 100% healthy going into the new year. They are very well positioned.

Murray wants a new contract, but it is something that we will be watching as training camp draws closer and the season opener approaches. The Cardinals wouldn't be competitive without Hopkins and Murray.

According to NFL Research, Murray is the only NFL player with 70 touchdown passes and 20 rush touchdowns in his three first seasons. Murray joins Cam Newton in being the only player in NFL history to have more than 10,000 passing yards and more that 1,500 rushing miles in his first three seasons.