Cardinals’ Rondale Moore to undergo MRI for hamstring Injury

Rondale Moore – CC BY-SA

Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network has reported that Arizona Cardinals’ 22-year-old wide receiver Rondale Moore hurt his hamstring during practice on Thursday. Wilson will undergo MRI to check the severity of his injury.

Moore’s injury came just as the Cardinals were about to start their 2022 campaign. A crucial part of Arizona’s offense, Moore recorded 54 catches for 435 yards and one touchdown in 14 games during his rookie season in 2021. He also had 76 yards on 18 rushing attempts, 171 yards on 21 punt returns and 291 yards on 13 kickoff returns. He ranks sixth among all NFL rookies in all-purpose yards and seventh among rookies in receiving yards.

Another Cardinals wide receiver, DeAndre Hopkins, will also miss the first six games of the 2022 season. The NFL earlier imposed a suspension on Hopkins over the use of performance-enhancing drugs.

Moore was expected to have a bigger role in 2022 after playing behind Hopkins, Christian Kirk, and A.J. Green in the previous season. The Cardinals will have to rely on Green, Marquise “Hollywood” Brown, Andy Isabella, and possibly Greg Dortch if the Purdue product remains out for an extended period.

The Cardinals acquired Brown from the Baltimore Ravens in the 2022 NFL Draft when Brown just returned from a breakthrough year, catching 91 catches for 1,008 yards and six scores in 16 games in 2021.

Hopkins is slated to remain out through Week 6. Other Cardinal players projected to sit out Week 1 are Cody Ford, Colt McCoy and Charles Washington. Ford received a knee injury on Thursday, and it remains uncertain when the player will return. McCoy will reportedly be absent until at least Week 5 over a calf strain. Meanwhile, Washington will be missing out on four games due to a chest injury he sustained in the offseason.

The Cardinals will open their 2022 season with a game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at State Farm Stadium. In Week 2, Arizona will take on the Las Vegas Raiders.