Cardinals wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins absent from voluntary off-season training session

The Cardinals began the third phase of their offseason program on Monday, holding the first of four rounds of practice sessions at their Tempe training facility. To no real surprise, star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins wasn’t in attendance.

Instead, the five-time All-Pro and Pro Bowl selection was in Toronto, where he is working out on his own with personal trainers. He also took time to appear on the “I AM ATHLETE” podcast to discuss his football future and to partially explain why isn’t working out alongside his teammates under the watchful eye of a new Cardinals’ coaching staff.

Noting the practices and meetings going on in Tempe this week are voluntary, Hopkins said he can better prepare his body by working out on his own and with trainers who know his body the best.

“To go to the voluntary stuff early in your career and even later in your career of it makes sense for you, but for certain athletes I feel like at a certain level, they know their body and there’s not too much they’re going to get out of being at a (team) facility when they can be somewhere like I am,” Hopkins told former NFL receiver Brandon Marshall and host Ashley Nicole Moss.

“The NFL hires great trainers,” Hopkins continued, “but at a certain year and a certain level of your career, I just think that going with who you know and who knows your body the best is going to get you your best returns.”

Hopkins added that he knows his absence will be frowned upon by some, but he stressed that he’s still constantly engaging with teammates and trying to build chemistry with them despite his name being attached to swirling trade rumors.

That’s admirable, but what about missing out on formulative time on the field to not only learn the new offensive scheme, but pick up the nuances of the new play-calling language?

“I’m not worried about Hop. He’s played a long time,” coach Jonathan Gannon said following Monday’s workouts. “He’s extremely intelligent and I think he’ll fit right in when he decides to come. But again, it’s voluntary and it’s his decision and we’re behind it.”

The Cardinals have two more rounds of OTAs May 31-June 2 and June 5-8 before mandatory minicamp June 13-15. Star safety Budda Baker was also a no-show on Monday. If Hopkins and Baker were to skip mandatory minicamp, they could be fined by the club.

Gannon was asked if Hopkins has indicated to him that he wants to remain in Arizona and continue playing for the Cardinals.

“We’ve had good conversations. I’ll keep those between us,” he said. “But I like Hop.”

The trade speculation has been ongoing since January and although Hopkins has never publicly said he wants to be traded, he hasn’t said he doesn’t want to be traded, either. Considering his salary of $19.4 million this year and $14.9 million in 2024, trading Hopkins might be the best solution for the Cardinals considering they are in rebuilding mode and have a starting quarterback in Kyler Murray who could miss the first several weeks of the season as he recovers from major knee surgery.

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On Monday’s podcast appearance, Hopkins was asked what he’s seeking at this point in his career and he wasn’t afraid to answer.

“What I want is stable management upstairs, that’s something I haven’t really had the past couple years of my career coming from Houston and then to Arizona,” he said. “A QB who loves the game, a QB who brings everybody on board with him, not just himself but everybody. … And a great defense. A great defense wins championship.”

Hopkins went on to imply that he think the Cardinals have all three things.

“This is Monti’s first year as GM, but from what I understand and from talking to Monti, I think Arizona is in good hands,” Hopkins said, referring to first-year General Manager Monti Ossenfort, adding the defense “is good.”

“We have Budda Baker, Isaiah Simmons,” he said. “… And Kyler is a quarterback who loves the game, but he’s injured. Right now, I’m playing with Colt McCoy, who I love. But who knows? Right now, I currently don’t have a Pro Bowl quarterback.”

The veteran McCoy, as expected, was taking the first-team reps at quarterback on Monday ahead of David Blough, Jeff Driskel and rookie Clayton Tune. But it’s Murray, five months removed from a torn ACL, who could ultimately be the trump card as to what happens next with Hopkins.

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Murray was on the field Monday and although he’s months away from being able to practice, the timetable of his return might push things one way or another as it relates to Hopkins. Obviously, the quicker Murray returns, the happier it will make Hopkins.

“I feel good about where he’s at,” Gannon said, referring to Murray’s rehab progress. “… He wants to be out there, I know that. He’s fully engaged with everything we’re doing. … When you see your trigger guy out there it matters. He’s done everything and more that we’ve wanted him to do and I’m excited for him where he’s at.”

This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: WR DeAndre Hopkins was a no-show on 1st day of Arizona Cardinals' OTAs