Tag: timelly

Will Trey McBride’s return help jump start Cardinals’ offense?

The Cardinals missed McBride in their Week 4 loss.

The Arizona Cardinals offense struggled in last Sunday’s 42-14 loss to the Washington Commanders and the absence of tight end Trey McBride can’t be overlooked.

McBride suffered a concussion in the Week 3 game against the Lions when cornerback Brian Branch led with his helmet on a tackle. Branch was fined $10,128 and also suffered a concussion. He began practicing during the ensuing week, but was then declared out of Detroit’s Monday night game against Seattle with what was said to be an illness.

McBride admitted to having a “a rough week” after the hit, but has now cleared the concussion protocol and head coach Jonathan Gannon said he’s “good to go” for Sunday’s game against the 49ers.

Earlier the week, when asked how much the offense missed him, Gannon said, “He’s just a really good player out of the lineup. He does a lot for us in the run and pass game, so anytime you don’t have one of your better players out there, it hurts the unit. I thought guys responded the right way, but it’ll be good to get Trey back.”

Quarterback Kyler Murray said “it’s huge” that McBride will be play.

“I think we missed him last week,” Murray said. “Just having him out there, another playmaker, another guy that gets the job done no matter what. His confidence is going to continue to grow, so I’m definitely excited to have him back out there.”

One other note on Branch. We reported on Saturday that he was also fined another $10,128 in the game against the Cardinals for striking/kicking/kneeing a player thought to be tight end Tip Reiman on a 42-yard field goal by Matt Prater.

Reiman confirmed to Cards Wire that he was the victim. Branch was rushing on the attempt and Reiman, who was on the wing on left side of the line blocked him and pushed him. Then, well, after the play, Branch slapped Reiman in the head. There was no penalty on either of Branch’s infractions, but league review levied the fines.

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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Jonathan Gannon unworried about Budda Baker’s, DeAndre Hopkins’ absence from OTAs

The Cardinals are still in the voluntary part of the offseason. Gannon isn’t worried about Hopkins’ or Baker’s absence from OTAs.

The Arizona Cardinals opened Phase 3 of the offseason program with the first of 10 days of voluntary OTAs (organized team activities).

Two players were notably absent — safety Budda Baker and receiver DeAndre Hopkins.

This is the voluntary part of the offseason, so there is no reason to be worried.

Head coach Jonathan Gannon isn’t.

“I think Budda will show up when he wants to show up,” he said after Monday’s practice. “He’s been awesome. He has been wearing us out a little bit with tape and different things like that. But he’s working. He’ll get himself ready to play.”

He also isn’t concerned about Hopkins.

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

However, the reasons why they are gone is reason to be concerned.

Baker is unhappy because he wants a contract extension. He also requested a trade.

Hopkins seems to want to be traded and the team tried to before the draft, but the Cardinals couldn’t get their asking price.

What really matters is whether they report for mandatory minicamp June 13-15. That is still a couple of weeks away.

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

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