In the Arizona Cardinals’ lost season at 4-11, one of the more frustrating things has been to see the role of receiver Greg Dortch. All he has done is make plays this season when given the opportunity.
He was one of the few bright spots in the Cardinals’ 19-16 overtime loss on Sunday night to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, leading the team with 123 yards from scrimmages. He had a career-high 10 receptions for 98 yards and rushed for another 25 on three attempts.
That came after two weeks of a combined 10 offensive snaps.
In his last game with significant playing, against the San Francisco 49ers, had had nine catches for 103 yards.
Despite the big game, Cardinals coach Kliff Kingsbury has no regrets about the volatile changes in playing time for Dortch this season.
“This has been a process of him kind of coming on, developing, continuing to work, and continuing to master his craft,” Kingsbury said after the game. ‘I thought this was by far his sharpest game as far as (being) dialed in and executing the offense as it’s called. He was really crisp tonight and continues to make plays when he gets his number called. I’m really proud of his progress and how he played tonight.”
Kingsbury has been consistent about his message about Dortch. There have been things Dortch has needed to improve as a receiver. But when he has had playing time, he has produced.
“You have to be ready to perform whenever your number is called,” Dortch said postgame. “It might not be next week, you don’t know when it’s going to be, but whenever it’s called you have to be ready to perform. I just try to show up every day to work. I don’t know how much I’m going to play or when my number is going to be called, but when it is called I just have to be ready for that moment.”
The way things are shaking out this season, Dortch should be ready for a prominent role in 2023.