Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins finds support from NFL great amid PED suspension: 'He'll still be a Hall of Famer'
Hopkins is missing the first six weeks of the season
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Arizona Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins received some major encouragement from a future Pro Football Hall of Famer on Saturday.
Hopkins was suspended for the first six games of the 2022 NFL season for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy. Nonetheless, Larry Fitzgerald told TMZ Sports that Hopkins is still bound for Canton.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Larry Fitzgerald Jr. attends the playoff game between the Dallas Mavericks and the Phoenix Suns on May 15, 2022, at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. (Barry Gossage/NBAE via Getty Images)
"He'll still be a Hall of Famer. He'll work through it. It's just some adversity and, you know, he's a tough guy, resourceful, and he'll work his way through it," Fitzgerald told the gossip website.
Fitzgerald admitted it was a "big blow" for the Cardinals, who started last season winning their first seven games.
Hopkins said in a statement posted to Twitter earlier this month he was "confused and shocked" by his positive performance-enhancing drug test.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}NFL LEGEND ERIC DICKERSON REACTS TO DEANDRE HOPKINS SUSPENSION: 'IT COULD HAPPEN TO ANY PLAYER'
"In my 10-year NFL career, I have never tested positive for using performance-enhancing drugs," the statement read.
"To learn that my November test came back with trace elements of a banned substance, I was confused and shocked.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald of the Cardinals runs a drill before the San Francisco 49ers game at State Farm Stadium on Dec. 26, 2020, in Glendale, Arizona. (Norm Hall/Getty Images)
"I am very mindful of what I put in my body and have always taken a holistic approach, so I am working with my team to investigate how this could’ve happened. But even as careful as I have been, clearly I wasn’t careful enough. For that I apologize to Cardinals fans, my teammates, and the entire Cardinals organization. I never want to let my team down.
"I fully intend to get to the bottom of this. As soon as I have more information I will share it."
It’s unclear what he tested positive for.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins celebrates after scoring a touchdown against the Houston Texans on Oct. 24, 2021, in Glendale, Arizona. (Chris Coduto/Getty Images)
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In 10 games last season, Hopkins had 42 catches for 572 yards and eight touchdowns.