The Cardinals are getting one of the top playmaking receivers in the NFL back following a contentious six-week suspension.
Three-time All-Pro receiver DeAndre Hopkins will play his first game of the season in the Week 7 "Thursday Night Football" matchup with the Saints. Arizona activated him to its 53-man roster on Monday, providing quarterback Kyler Murray with a much-needed boost in the receiving corps.
Hopkins was suspended for six games in early May after failing a performance-enhancing drug test administered by the NFL in November 2021. Despite maintaining his innocence throughout the suspension, Hopkins withdrew an appeal that would have challenged the ruling.
MORE: Cardinals' DeAndre Hopkins denies any wrongdoing for failed PED test: 'It wasn’t on me'
Now, he'll rejoin a 2-4 Cardinals team that could certainly use his help as they attempt to make the NFL playoffs.
He would rather you not call it a comeback, though, based on the hype video he released in conjunction with his 2022 debut:
The Sporting News breaks down Hopkins' suspension, the NFL's PED policy and the illegal substance for which Hopkins reportedly tested.
Why was DeAndre Hopkins suspended?
Hopkins was suspended in May following a failed PED test, meaning he tested positive for a banned substance.
The league's PED policy includes any of "anabolic/androgenic steroids (including exogenous testosterone), stimulants, human or animal growth hormones, whether natural or synthetic, and related or similar substances."
At the time his suspension was reported, Hopkins released a statement saying he was "confused and shocked" at the result, saying it revealed only "trace elements" of the prohibited substance for which he tested.
He nonetheless agreed to the suspension, though was reportedly considering an appeal of the findings as late as June.
Shortly following the report of his suspension, Hopkins doubled down on his stance, saying "it wasn't on me" that he failed the test. He claimed he must have ingested something contaminated with an illegal substance, which resulted in his suspension.
Hopkins again claimed innocence in the situation in late July, adding that the NFL is too strict in its adherence to "black and white" rules regarding positive PED tests.
"I’ve never taken any of that kind of stuff. If you know about what it is, it can be in shampoo, it can be in a lot of different things," Hopkins said. "Obviously the NFL is very black and white, so of course, I wish the rule wasn’t so black and white. It is what it is. It’s hard to know when something gets contaminated at a trace amount when you’re not working at the manufacturing company.
"It’s hard to know what you can eat, what you can do when you’re not in control of manufacturing anything or what goes through a conveyor belt, you know what I’m saying? So, obviously, I do think that rules should change. But like I said, that stuff, it’ll work itself out, and I’ve never taken anything. I barely take vitamins."
What is the NFL's PED policy?
The NFL's PED policy — jointly agreed upon with its players association — has different suspension lengths depending on the type of banned substance for which a player tests positive and whether a player is a repeat offender.
Hopkins' six-game suspension aligns with him being a first-time offender for taking an anabolic steroid. Per a 2021 copy of the policy:
Step 1: The first time a player violates this policy by testing positive for a prohibited substance; attempting to substitute, dilute or adulterate a specimen; or manipulating a test result, he will be suspended without pay pursuant to the following schedule:
Positive test result for stimulant, diuretic or masking agent — two regular and/or postseason games.
Positive test result for anabolic agent — six regular and/or postseason games.
Positive test result for prohibited substance plus diuretic or masking agent / attempt to substitute, dilute or adulterate specimen/attempt to manipulate test result/violation of Section 5 — eight regular and/or postseason games.
MORE: Cardinals WR depth chart after Robbie Anderson trade, Hollywood Brown injury
What banned substance did Hopkins take?
Hopkins said he was found to test positive for ostarine, a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM). Though it is deemed an anabolic steroid, it has gained popularity among athletes because it helps in gaining muscle mass without the typical drawbacks of steroid use.
Ostarine is banned in the United States and is on the list of World Anti-Doping Agency) prohibited substances. Per the United States Anti-Doping Agency (which falls under the WADA umbrella), ostarine is banned from use in sports, also can't be medically prescribed and is deemed unfit for human consumption in the United States.
Hopkins missed the final four games of the 2021 season after suffering a torn MCL on Dec. 13, 2021 in a loss vs. the Rams. He previously missed three games in November with a hamstring issue.
Again, the Cardinals receiver said he did not knowingly take ostarine or a product that lists it as an ingredient.
“There was 0.1 percent found in my system,” Hopkins said. “If you know what that is, you know it’s contamination, not something taken directly. I don’t take any supplements. I’ve never taken supplements. I barely take vitamins."