The Arizona Cardinals received troubling news regarding star wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins. He is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season, putting this franchise in a tough spot. With the playoffs looming in the near distance, the team needs someone to step up.

It shouldn't be too difficult for the Cardinals to adjust without Hopkins. They played well when he and Kyler Murray sat out several games, which built the team's confidence. However, Arizona finds themselves in third place in the NFC and needs to continue winning to earn back the top seed.

For that reason, the Cardinals will be looking for the entire offense to step up. However, three receivers stand out as the most important to replace Hopkins' production. It'll be a tall task, but we should see Christian Kirk, Rondale Moore, and AJ Green become more involved.

With that said, here are three Cardinals players that must step up with DeAndre Hopkins out for the rest of the season.

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Cardinals That Must Step Up

3. Christian Kirk

It's been a bumpy career for Christian Kirk, but he's shown he has the talent to be a reliable receiver in the NFL. With Hopkins ruled out, the Cardinals will need someone in the wide receiver room to step up in a big way. Considering Arizona is taking on the Detroit Lions in Week 15, this is a perfect opportunity for Kirk to boost his production.

Kirk has the ability to stretch the field and provide consistency in the deep ball. We'll see if that comes to fruition, but the Cardinals' coaching staff will put him in the right position to succeed. Look for Christian Kirk to play a big role in Arizona's next game.

2. Rondale Moore

Rondale Moore has been an exciting rookie for the Cardinals. He burst onto the scene in the first portion of the season, but since then has cooled off. Arizona might be looking for Moore to increase his workload, as he's an electrifying playmaker.

It'll be interesting to see how Moore's role expands with Hopkins out of the picture again. Either way, Rondale Moore is a threat to take it to the house on any given play, which is exactly what the Cardinals need. The coaching staff will try to get him going with some screen passes and underneath throws.

1. AJ Green

AJ Green is the veteran of this Cardinals offense and it's time he steps up and provides consistency. He reeled in some impressive receptions against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 14, flashing his former greatness for Arizona. Although it didn't result in a win, that's the type of production this team needs out of Green.

With Kirk and Moore likely receiving most of the attention from opposing defenses, now is the time for AJ Green to step up. He can be the veteran leader the offense needs with Hopkins out of the lineup. Considering he and Kyler Murray connected a few times in Week 14, the two will have a chance to expand on that against the Detroit Lions. Look for Green to play a bigger role until Hopkins potentially returns in the postseason.