Tag: Greg Dortch

Greg Dortch expected to play vs. Lions

Dortch was officially questionable for the game with a hamstring injury.

The Arizona Cardinals entered Sunday with three players listed as questionable to play their Week 3 home game against the Detroit Lions. One of them is receiver Greg Dortch, their starting slot receiver.

However, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dortch will play.

Dortch suffered a hamstring injury late in the week. It doesn’t appear that it is serious.

Had he not been able to play, rookie Xavier Weaver likely would have replaced him in the lineup.

Starting right tackle Kelvin Beachum is also questionable with a hamstring injury, but since the Cardinal elevated two tackles from the practice squad, it seems likely that Beachum will sit out.

Second-year defensive lineman Dante Stills is questionable with a shoulder injury.

The Cardinals and Lions will release their inactive lists 90 minutes before kickoff.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Greg Dortch is lone player connection between Cardinals, Rams

Between the Cardinals and Rams, only one team has been with both — receiver Greg Dortch.

The Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams face one another in Week 2 in Arizona for the first of two divisional matchups this season. Typically, we will see a few player connections between the Cardinals and their opponents.

This week, there is a singular connection — one Cardinals player who spent time with the Rams. The Rams have no former Cardinals on their active roster, reserves or practice squad.

The one Cardinals player to spent time with the Rams is receiver Greg Dortch. Dortch, now in his fourth season with the Cardinals, spent the final month of the 2019 on the Rams’ practice squad, so he never appeared in a game.

Rams receiver Cooper Kupp has a connection to the Cardinals a different way. His father, Craig Kupp, was a backup quarterback for the Cardinals in 1991.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Fantasy Football: 15 best waiver wire targets for Week 2

Isaiah Likely is the top waiver wire target in fantasy football this week. These players are also worth consideration.

The first week of the 2024 NFL season is in the books and it’s now time to hit the waiver wire in your fantasy football leagues.

To help you win the waiver wire, we’ve put together a list of 15 players to target this week, including options at quarterback, running back, wide receiver, tight end, defense and even kicker. Each player’s roster percentage in ESPN fantasy football leagues is listed in parentheses.

Note that these players are listed by position and ranked by their roster percentage, and that does not necessarily reflect the order in which they should be claimed this week. For example, tight end Isaiah Likely should be a top priority ahead of Week 2.

Now, let’s get to the list!

Fantasy Football Waiver Wire Targets Week 2

1. QB Baker Mayfield (34%): Don’t expect four touchdowns every week, but Mayfield is a serviceable fill-in if you need help at quarterback.

2. RB Jaleel McLaughlin (45%): He led the Broncos in carries (10) and also had five targets as a receiver out of the backfield. McLaughlin’s production (32 yards) was poor, but his utilization is promising.

3. RB Rico Dowdle (40%): He had two fewer carries (8) than Ezekiel Elliott (10) and one fewer target (1). It’s early, but Dowdle’s worth stashing.

4. RB Bucky Irving (21%): He led the Buccaneers with 62 rushing yards despite getting six fewer carries (9) than Rachaad White (15). Irving also got three targets as a receiver out of the backfield.

5. RB Tank Bigsby (5%): Travis Etienne remains the Jaguars’ top running back, but Bigsby received the same amount of carries (12) and ended up leading the team with 73 rushing yards.

6. WR Rashid Shaheed (42%): He turned five targets into three receptions for 73 yards and a touchdown.

7. WR Wan’Dale Robinson (7%): The Giants look like a team that will have to throw often while trailing and Robinson was Daniel Jones’ favorite receiver on Sunday with six catches for 44 yards on 12 targets.

8. WR Greg Dortch (2%): He had a team-high eight targets on Sunday and led the Cardinals with six catches for 47 yards.

9. WR Devaughn Vele (1%): He tied for second on the team with eight targets. Vele hauled in all eight targets and while his yardage total (39) underwhelmed, he will be a serviceable PPR receiver if those targets continue.

10. WR Alec Pierce (1%): He’s a boom-or-bust WR who turned three targets into three catches for 125 yards and a touchdown in Week 1.

11. TE Taysom Hill (46%): With several tight ends injured and other TEs underperforming, Hill turned in a top-12 performance on Sunday, and it was a quiet day (five carries for 35 yards and one catch for one yard). He is a boom-or-bust prospect, but Hill is a good fill-in option if you need a TE.

12. TE Isaiah Likely (10%): Likely is the fantasy football waiver wire target of the week after hauling in nine receptions for 111 yards and one touchdown on 12 targets in Week 1. There’s no guarantee he will have better utilization than Mark Andrews (2 targets) on a week-to-week basis, but Likely is a must-add in case this trend continues.

13. TE Tucker Kraft (4%): Kraft played 94% of Green Bay’s offensive snaps in Brazil, a sign that he’s the new TE1 over Luke Musgrave (25%). That only led to two catches for 37 yards on three targets in Week 1, but Kraft emerging as a starter is notable for TE-needy managers in deep leagues.

14. DST Los Angeles Chargers (11%): After a strong showing in Week 1, the Chargers now get a great matchup against the Carolina Panthers in Week 2.

15. K Chris Boswell (4%): Whether it’s Justin Fields or Russell Wilson under center, Pittsburgh’s offense seems to be good enough to move the ball but not quite good enough to score many touchdowns. That’s good news for Boswell’s fantasy football stack. He made six field goals on Sunday.

For more fantasy football coverage, check out our fantasy football hub.

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Fantasy football outlook: Arizona Cardinals WR preview

A prized rookie headlines an unheralded receiving corps in the desert.

The Arizona Cardinals‘ wide receivers room has been a turnstile in recent years. Last year’s top two wide receivers both left – Marquise Brown (free agency) and Rondale Moore (trade). Entering 2024, the Cardinals have a new No. 1 wide receiver in fourth overall draft pick Marvin Harrison Jr., who is already being anointed as the ”next big thing” in Arizona.

Harrison joins a pair of in-house returnees – Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch. Arizona added a pair of veterans in free agency with low-investment signings of Zay Jones and Zach Pascal. There are some questions how the depth charter will play out for WR2 through WR5, but there’s no question that Harrison is the go-to guy.

Cardinals WR Greg Dortch says it’s ‘crazy’ being almost veteran mentor

He enters his sixth NFL season while he has only really played three.

There’s a simple word wide receiver Greg Dortch uses when he contemplates being one of the veterans in the Arizona Cardinals wide receivers room: “Crazy.”

But it’s true. Of the team’s returning receivers, only Zach Pascal precedes him with a 2017 entry into the NFL. Two newcomers that signed one-year contracts this offseason are Chris Moore (2016) and Zay Jones (2017).

Dortch was an undrafted free agent when he was signed by the Carolina Panthers in 2019. He came to the Cardinals in 2021 and no other receiver on the current roster arrived in Arizona before that. Andre Baccellia was an undrafted free agent with the Kansas City Chiefs in 2020 and has bounced back and forth between the practice squad and active roster since signing with the Cardinals in 2021.

Noting that this is his sixth NFL season, Dortch was asked if that changes his perspective considering how quickly the years have passed.

“It can,” he said. “I think it has a little bit. For me, it’s been six years, but I haven’t played six years. So, I still feel pretty young. I still feel like I just got here. But y’all know me, man. My perspective and my mentality has always been the same. Once I get an opportunity, I’m going to show everybody what I can do.”

Asked if he truly feels like a veteran in the room, Dortch said, “I do, but I don’t. It’s really tough. You look, six years into the league and wonder where has the time gone. You have guys coming in and they’re asking me questions (about) how they can improve this and what do I see and I’m like damn, I was just there asking the same questions.

“It is a little bit of a change, but it’s a great change. I still have the opportunity for me to spread knowledge and spread the game that I love. The average NFL career is three years so to make it to six that’s a big thing.”

One of those new receivers, of course, is rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., the fourth overall choice in this year’s draft.

So, Greg, is he one of those guys that asks you questions?

“He has,” Dortch admitted. “I would like to keep that kinda private, but we definitely talk. We’ve talked about a lot of things.”

He did say he’s not shocked that has happened because of the rookie’s approach.

“He’s a student of the game,” Dortch said. “We all love football and that’s something that we have in common. So, for him to ask me questions, that means a lot to me. It means that he’s watched my game and he sees something that he likes in my game that he wants.”

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

WR Greg Dortch lauds QB Kyler Murray for being ‘locked in’

Murray says Dortch is ‘unguardable.’ Dortch lauds how ‘locked in’ Murray is.

It’s no surprise that Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray has been talked about at a high level throughout the entire offseason.

Murray was especially expansive during his media availability a few weeks ago, while numerous players along with head coach Jonathan Gannon had much to say about the quarterback’s presence during the entirety of the offseason program that ended June 12.

So it was that wide receiver Greg Dortch chimed in during his session with reporters this week regarding something Murray said about him:

“I feel like Dortch is unguardable. One-on-one, knowing where to be in the zones, he’s just got the nuance and savvy to him that you want in a receiver and not everybody has it. I say that because it’s not very common.

“He’s 5-7. If he was 6-3, he’d be a top-five pick in the NFL draft. That’s what I think. That’s the type of football player that he is. And again, he loves the game. I’d go to war with Greg every day.”

Asked if he was aware of those comments, Dortch said “of course” and added, “It makes me feel good. The confidence is there, clearly. Hell yeah, that’s my quarterback. So, to hear that coming from him, the guy that’s going to be throwing me the ball, it makes me feel good.”

As for what’s ahead, Dortch was asked if he believes Murray is locked in; to which he said, “I think come September, you’ll see how locked in he really is. OTAs have been fun. I’m not sure if you guys have seen a lot, but we look really good. I’m excited for the season.”

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Cardinals WR Greg Dortch says fans ‘really haven’t even seen anything yet’

Dortch is excited for what his role might be in 2024.

There is a lot new for Arizona Cardinals wide receiver/return specialist Greg Dortch as the 2024 season approaches.

There is a new uniform number, a potentially expanded consistent role in the offense and a feeling of belonging since entering the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Jets in 2019.

With Rondale Moore traded to the Falcons in the offseason, Dortch was eager to take the No. 4 jersey Moore wore after being a second-round pick in 2021, the year Dortch signed with the Cardinals on Aug. 3 coincidentally after being waived by the Falcons on June 17.

“Man, I’m not going to lie. I’m really excited about that number,” Dortch said this week. “I really love it. It looks good on me. I wore it in high school, so it kinda means a little bit something to me; just my journey leading up to the NFL.

“When I first got here, I was given No. 38. I wore 38 in the preseason and then I moved to 83 and I wore that for three years and now I finally get a number that I can wear that I really wanted to wear so I think it adds just confidence, more confidence to what I already had.”

In two games with the Panthers in 2021, Dortch had no offensive snaps and 34 in five games with the Cardinals in 2021. His role started to grow in 2022, but was largely dependent on Moore’s availability. He played all 16 games and had 513 offensive snaps, but then came the coaching change after the 2023 season.

Asked about this offseason and being in the same system with the same coaches, Dortch said, “I would say that it’s changed a lot. Going from Year 1 when you have new coaches and you have to reprove yourself all over again and then stepping into Year 2 and the coaches kinda know what you bring to the table, and this is for everybody not just me, you just feel more comfortable because you know that they’ve seen you before and you know that they know what you have in the tank. So stepping into Year 2 it just allows you to be more comfortable, play faster and just be yourself.”

Still, it took awhile last season to get opportunities beyond returning kicks. In the first three games, he had no offensive snaps, followed by one each in the next two games, then 16, four, 22 and one in quarterback Kyler Murray’s return to the field. In two of those games, he had one target in each with one reception for two yards.

Everything changed the next week with 46 snaps against the Texans, while catching 6-of-8 targets for 76 yards.

Asked if ever wondered if his opportunity would come, Dortch said, “I had already been through that before with the last coaching staff and me personally, I don’t worry about, ‘Oh, when am I gonna play or why aren’t they playing me?’ I don’t worry about all those things. Those are things that I can’t control. The only thing that I can control, is when they do say, ‘OK, Dortch, go in.’ That’s what I can control.

“My effort, how hard I run to the ball. If I make the play, when I make the play; that’s what I can control. So all the other stuff, the outside noise all the things that I can’t control, I don’t really worry about that.”

He played 352 offensive snaps in the final seven games and was targeted 39 times, catching 24 for 280 yards and two touchdowns. It has him enthused to have a role going forward as more than a kick returner.

“Yeah, I’m more than just a returner, for sure,” he said. “I feel like I showed that. I’m gonna continue to show that. But I’m just excited to step into this new role and I’m definitely looking forward to it. I’m always comfortable but I think me being comfortable comes from the work that I’ve put in.

“Not while everybody’s watching, but the work that I put in when nobody’s watching. I think that work allows me to be confident and it allows me to perform to my best ability. When my number gets called and I have an opportunity to make a play, I’m going to make the play.”

As for his mentality possibly changing from fighting for a roster spot to pushing for more opportunity in the offense, he insisted, “The mentality stays the same. Undrafted, Year 6, same mentality. If not, I’m a little bit more hungry than I was from the jump. This is a big year for me. And I just plan on going out there and having fun.

“I feel like everything will take care of itself as long as I go out there and I just be myself and have fun. I’ll have no worries.”

He described his role as “just being used a little more on the offensive side of the ball. I know I’ve built the trust of the coaches but once again, their job is to coach, my job is to play, so once they call my number whenever that time is, I’ll make sure to be ready.”

Finally, with his new number and role, a reporter wondered if the stars seemed to be aligning for a special year.

“I think so,” Dortch said. “I think I’ve worked my ass off to earn all of this that I’m getting. But this is where the real work starts. All the things that I’ve done leading up to this point has just prepared me for this moment and I think that this is just the beginning. You guys really haven’t even seen anything yet.”

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

 

83 days till the Cardinals’ season opener against the Bills

Tejhaun Palmer wears No. 83 now but Greg Dortch was an impactful No. 83 before changing his number to No. 4.

As we start the first week of the summer break for the Arizona Cardinals, as they have completed their offseason program, we move a day closer to the start of their regular season.

As of today, a Monday, there are 83 days until the Cardinals take the field at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park to face the Buffalo Bills on the road in Week 1.

The current No. 83 on the team is rookie receiver Tejhaun Palmer, drafted in the sixth round this year.

He has not yet made any impact on the team and will have a tough time making the roster.

The last impactful No. 83 is on the roster but no longer wears No. 83. It is receiver Greg Dortch, who changed to No. 4 after Rondale Moore was traded to the Atlanta Falcons this offseason.

Dortch has played the last three seasons for Arizona and doesn’t have big numbers, with a career-high of 52 catches for 467 yards in 2022.

He hasn’t been given extended opportunities to play on offense. When he does, he produces.

He could be the team’s starting slot receiver in 2024 so probably will be more impactful as No. 4 than he was at No. 83.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

 

Kyler Murray excited about his pass-catching weapons

He had glowing praise for Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson and Greg Dortch.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray spoke to the media for the first time since the end of the 2023 season five months ago and in his 21-plus minutes he was as comfortable as he’s ever been since being the first overall pick in the 2019 draft.

He used the word “excited” numerous times and a lot of that occurred when asked specifically about a few guys that will be his wide receivers, notably first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr.

The duo has been working together for only a month, but it’s been a quick study for Murray who was hopeful Harrison would land in Arizona with the fourth overall choice in the first round.

Murray said, “I think everybody saw it coming out and I know there’s an evaluation and everything when it comes to the draft process and everybody’s watching everybody and they want to nit-pick what he can do, what he can’t do, but he’s been good at football his whole life. He’s obviously been groomed by one of the best, his pops (Marvin Sr.), a Hall of Famer and there’s not much to think about. He plays the game at a high level and obviously it’s a new level for him, but I have no doubt that he’ll go do his thing this year whenever he wants to.

“Because he’s going to be that type of guy and I know how much he loves the game just sitting there talking to him. His energy and just what he’s going to mean to the team I think everybody should be excited about.”

Asked what Harrison can bring to the offense as a rookie if he is “that guy,” Murray quickly said, “He will be (that guy). That takes us to another level. When you’ve got a guy that is capable of winning one-on-ones, obviously he’s gotta go do it and he knows that; we all know it. But as far as manipulating coverages, stuff like that, you got a guy out there that can do that and even if he’s not open, he’s open, so I’m excited to be able to build that with him when he does what he does. Yeah, I fully expect our offense to be top of the league.”

Murray and Michael Wilson were delayed in getting on the same page last season, but they began hitting their stride down the stretch.

Noting that he believes Wilson will improve “a lot” in his second season, Murray said, “And not necessarily a lot in that he has a lot of work to get better at. But … Mike’s gonna be playing for a long time. I fully believe that. He’s one of those guys; I mean, I call him at 3 a.m., he’s there. He loves this (expletive). I fully expect Mike to go off this year, for sure.”

Chuckling when asked if Wilson has to earn his trust, Murray said, “I can watch the dude and tell if he’s got it. He doesn’t have to earn my trust. I think if anything you embrace it.”

Finally, Murray had strong words for what he believes Greg Dortch can continue to add to the offense.

“I feel like Dortch is unguardable,” Murray said. “As far as one-on-one, knowing where to be in the zones; he’s got the nuance and the savvy to him that you want in a receiver and not everybody has it. I say that because it’s not very common.

“What is he, 5-7? If he was 6-3, he’d be a top-five pick in the NFL. That’s what I think, that’s the type of football player that he is. And again, he loves the game. I can … go to war with Greg every day.”

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

Greg Dortch the Cardinals’ most underappreciated player?

Dortch was set to have a big role on offense, until the Cardinals signed Zay Jones.

Every roster in the NFL has players who could be viewed as underappreciated. They perhaps don’t get the opportunities but perform when they do.

Who is the Arizona Cardinals’ most underappreciated player?

According to NFL.com’s Tom Blair, it is receiver Greg Dortch.

Dortch’s season stat line (41 targets, 24 catches, 280 receiving yards, two TDs) looks kind of lame, but that’s because through mid-November, he was limited to punt- and kick-return duties. Most of his 2023 production came after Kyler Murray returned from injury, with Dortch becoming the second most-targeted player on the team from Week 11 to Week 18, when he also racked up the second-most receiving first downs (14). The spotlight might linger on superstar rookie Marvin Harrison Jr., but it wouldn’t be surprising if Murray continued to look in the direction of Dortch (who, by the way, will count for just $985,000 against the cap after signing a one-year exclusive rights tender in April). After a full season of being called a “glue guy” on TV, Dortch might graduate from this list. For now, let’s join Marquise Brown in showing this former practice squadder some love.

Dortch has had a knack of making plays at receiver when given the opportunity. It appeared that perhaps he would be a key part of the offensive rotation as the team’s primary slot receiver, perhaps getting the appreciation he deserves.

However, then the Cardinals signed Zay Jones and now the top three in the receiver room appear set to be Harrison, Jones and Michael Wilson, leaving Dortch again as the fourth receiver, getting only limited opportunities.

At 5-foot-7 and 175 pounds, he should still have chances at making plays, but perhaps he is truly underappreciated.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.