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Of Snap Counts And Grades: Jaguars Game

Hopkins' ribs don't cut down playing time; Kirk's grades remain high

Sep 27, 2021 at 10:25 AM

azcardinals.com

The question was whether DeAndre Hopkins was going to play Sunday -- I mean, to an extent, because even after missing practice all week with a ribs injury, it felt like he was going to be out there -- but perhaps it should've been how much he was going to play. Because in the end, Hopkins ended up playing 61 out of a possible 67 snaps in the win over the Jaguars. He only had three catches for 21 yards, but he was targeted six times as Kyler Murray moved the targets quite a bit (A.J. Green also had six; Chase Edmonds and Christian Kirk had eight.)

Kirk is a guy who is making himself some money and is efficient doing it. He only played 38 snaps (Green was at 53) but crossed the 100-yard mark, as did Green.

Speaking of guys who dealt with injuries, two other guys who were technically questionable with ankle injuries -- cornerbacks Byron Murphy and Marco Wilson -- each played all 68 defensive snaps (as did linebacker Jordan Hicks.)

As for the weekly snap updates, Edmonds got 44 snaps, James Conner 25 (but Conner had two touchdowns.) Defensive lineman J.J. Watt was at 82 percent of the defensive plays (56), and Zaven Collins continued his steady work at 41 percent (28 snaps).

As for this week's Pro Football Focus grades -- take them for what you will, as always -- the Cardinals had a number of strong showings. The highest grades of the week went to those former Saguaro High School teammates Kirk (87.6) and Murphy (87.5), not a surprise after their tangible production.

(Of full-time pass catchers, Kirk's 90.5 overall receiving grade this season is second only to Green Bay's Davante Adams in the NFL. Adams is at 90.7)

Defensively, Collins and Hicks each notched high marks (83.7 and 83.4, respectively) and Watt was credited with his best game so far at 83.7. Cornerback Robert Alford (73.2), linebacker Chandler Jones (70.3) and safety Jalen Thompson (70.0) also had good days.

On offense, Justin Pugh fill-in Sean Harlow was good at left guard (79.1), while Green (77.3), QB Kyler Murray (73.7), tight end Darrell Daniels (73.1) and new right tackle Josh Jones (72.1) also earned good marks.