The Arizona Cardinals on Friday released veteran wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins, making the 49ers’ path forward in the NFC West just a little bit easier.
Not that the Cardinals are supposed to be a formidable threat in the division this year. Their over/under win total prior to Hopkins’ release twas sitting at 5.5 wins.
Hopkins though has had his way with the 49ers in his career. He had one game with 11 catches for 149 yards and two touchdowns, and another where he hauled in 14 balls for 151 yards. He had another game with 87 yards and a touchdown on six catches. Even last season in Mexico City with Colt McCoy under center he put up nine catches for 91 yards in a 38-10 49ers blowout victory.
In total he has 50 catches on 69 targets for 549 yards and three touchdowns in six games against San Francisco. Those numbers add. up to 142 catches for 1,556 yards and nine touchdowns over a 17-game season.
San Francisco could still face Hopkins this year depending on where he signs, but they’ll likely be done facing him twice per year moving forward. That’s a small offseason victory worth celebrating.
