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Tip Reiman Tip Reiman Sticks primarily to blocking as rookie
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 11:01 PM
Reiman totaled six catches (on seven targets) for 37 yards and no touchdowns in 17 contests during the 2024 campaign.
Analysis: While Trey McBride (147 targets) and, to a lesser extent, Elijah Higgins (24 targets) handled most of the receiving reps among Cardinals tight ends this season, Reiman actually ranked second in snap share among the trio as a rookie third-round pick. Behind McBride's 89.3 percent, Reiman (41.2 percent) saw the field more than Higgins (38.0 percent), even though both played a full slate of games. All of the trio are under contract in 2025, so Reiman likely will remain a fantasy non-entity moving forward. |
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Elijah Higgins Elijah Higgins Makes small mark behind McBride
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 11:00 PM
Higgins reeled in 20 of 24 targets for 172 yards and two touchdowns in 17 regular-season contests in 2024.
Analysis: Trey McBride dominated snaps (89.3 percent on offense) and targets (147) among Cardinals tight ends this season, but Higgins (38.0 percent) and blocking specialist and rookie third-round pick Tip Reiman (41.2 percent, seven targets) had regular roles in the offense. A 2023 sixth-round pick of the Dolphins, Higgins has two years remaining on his rookie contract, but as long as McBride is around -- not to mention WRs Marvin Harrison and Michael Wilson (hamstring) and RB James Conner (knee) -- Higgins will find it difficult to make inroads in the pecking order for targets in Arizona's offense. |
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Zay Jones Zay Jones Career-worst campaign in 2024
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 10:59 PM
Jones notched eight catches (on 11 targets) for 84 yards and no touchdowns in 11 contests during the 2024 regular season.
Analysis: Jones' season debut was delayed by a five-game suspension for violating the NFL's personal conduct policy and a subsequent one-game roster exemption, but even upon suiting up Week 7, he logged two targets in four outings before the Cardinals' Week 11 bye and nine targets thereafter. Overall, he reached double-digit receiving yards in a game just three times for his fewest overall in a campaign since 2020 (154 as a member of the Raiders). The soon-to-be 30-year-old is an unrestricted free agent in March, so his recent lacking output may not equate to much interest on the open market. |
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Greg Dortch Greg Dortch Records three TDs in 2024
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 10:57 PM
Dortch gathered in 37 of 50 targets for 342 yards and three touchdowns, added five carries for 31 yards and returned seven kickoffs for 186 yards and 21 punts for 202 yards in 17 regular-season contests in 2024.
Analysis: Since his mini 52-467-2 breakout on 64 targets in 2022, Dortch has combined for 61-622-5 on 91 targets over the last two campaigns. In particular this past season, he recorded a reception in all but one game, but his receiving yardage total ranked fifth on the Cardinals behind TE Trey McBride, WRs Marvin Harrison and Michael Wilson (hamstring) and RB James Conner (knee). If Arizona opts to bolster its receiving corps further this offseason, Dortch, an upcoming restricted free agent, may find himself in an even lesser offensive role in 2025. |
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DeeJay Dallas DeeJay Dallas Mostly used on special teams in 2024
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 10:55 PM
Dallas tallied nine carries for 49 yards and no touchdowns, three catches (on three targets) for 11 yards and one TD and 15 kick returns for 459 yards and another score in 17 games during the 2024 campaign.
Analysis: Dallas took advantage of the NFL's new dynamic kickoff, reeling off a 98-yard TD return in a Week 1 loss at Buffalo. He was contained to special teams through Week 8, but as injuries took a toll on the backfield down the stretch, he earned touches in each of the last four contests. He's under contract through 2026, but with James Conner (knee), 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson (ankle) and Emari Demercado (back) also on the books, Dallas should remain primarily a special teamer during the upcoming season. |
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Emari Demercado Emari Demercado Ends campaign on IR
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 10:53 PM
Demercado (back) took 24 carries for 223 yards and one touchdown, hauled in 16 of 20 passes for 104 yards and no TDs and returned three kickoffs for 64 yards in 13 regular-season games in 2024.
Analysis: Prior to landing on injured reserve due to a back issue after Week 14, Demercado operated in a regular, albeit small, role out of the Cardinals backfield, seeing touches in all but one of his appearances. He averaged a robust 9.3 YPC on the campaign, and even if one removes his two runs of 40-plus yards, he boasted 5.9 YPC on his other 22 rushes, which is a shade above the 4.9 he logged as an undrafted rookie in 2023. With both James Conner (knee) and 2024 third-rounder Trey Benson (ankle) under contract next season, Demercado will remain a tertiary RB for Arizona in the fall. |
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Clayton Tune Clayton Tune Sparse usage in 2024
Mon, Feb 17, 2025, 10:52 PM
Tune completed two of two passes for eight yards, no touchdowns and no interceptions, recorded seven carries for minus-4 yards and lost his only fumble in six games during the 2024 regular season.
Analysis: The majority of Tune's appearances in his second pro campaign occurred in kneel-down scenarios, as starting QB Kyler Murray handled 96.6 percent of the offensive snaps. A 2023 fifth-round pick, Tune has 23 passes without a touchdown and 15 rushes with a TD on his resume in 13 contests. With Murray entering the second year of the extension he signed in July 2022, Tune will continue to operate as the primary backup to the former in 2025. |
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Trishton Jackson Trishton Jackson Inks futures deal with Arizona
Thu, Jan 16, 2025, 4:28 PM
The Cardinals signed Jackson to a reserve/future contract Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Jackson earned a spot on the Vikings' 53-man roster at the end of training camp, though he played just 12 snaps (10 on offense, two on special teams) across two regular-season games. He was waived off the Vikings' 53-man roster Oct. 20, and while he opted to stay in Minnesota on the practice squad, he was not elevated to the active roster for the rest of the 2024 campaign. Under a futures contract, Jackson will be on the Cardinals' 90-man roster when the new league year starts March 12. He'll have the opportunity to work with the coaching staff during OTAs, minicamp and training camp in the hopes of earning a spot on the Cardinals' 53-man roster for the 2025 regular season. |
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Quez Watkins Quez Watkins Headed to Arizona
Thu, Jan 16, 2025, 4:24 PM
Watkins signed a reserve/future contract with the Cardinals on Thursday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Watkins spent the first four years of his NFL career with the Eagles, who selected him in the sixth round of the 2020 NFL Draft. Despite signing a one-year, $1.29 million contract with the Steelers this past March, Watkins wasn't able to earn a spot on Pittsburgh's 53-man roster at the conclusion of training camp. He signed with the Steelers' practice squad in late August but was not elevated to the active roster during the regular season or the playoffs. Watkins will be a part of the Cardinals' 90-man roster when the new league year starts March 12, and he'll participate in OTAs, minicamp and training camp in the hopes of earning a spot on Arizona's 53-man roster for the 2025 campaign. |
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Zonovan Knight Zonovan Knight Signs reserve/future contract
Tue, Jan 7, 2025, 6:10 PM
Knight signed a reserve/future contract with the Cardinals on Tuesday.
Analysis: The running back also spent time with the Jets' practice squad in 2024 before joining the Cardinals, though he did not appear in any regular-season games. Knight played on eight offensive snaps for the Lions in 2023 and carried the ball three times for 13 yards. Now, he'll get a chance to compete for a role with Arizona during the team's offseason program. |
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Andre Baccellia Andre Baccellia Inks deal with Arizona
Mon, Jan 6, 2025, 3:30 PM
The Cardinals signed Baccellia to a reserve/future contract Monday, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports.
Analysis: The 28-year-old spent his 2024 campaign with the Cardinals' practice squad after failing to make the team's active roster in late August. Baccellia most recently appeared in a regular-season game with the Cardinals in 2023, tallying 22 kick return yards while playing 64 total snaps (46 offensive and 18 on special teams). He's expected to compete for a depth role in Arizona's wide receiver corps throughout the offseason. |
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Michael Carter Michael Carter Earns 21 touches in season finale
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 11:13 PM
Carter racked up 17 carries for 43 yards and one touchdown and hauled in all four targets for 16 yards during Sunday's 47-24 victory versus the 49ers.
Analysis: With James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) on injured reserve, Carter was tasked with leading the Cardinals backfield Week 18, as he started and dominated touches among his position mates. With 21 touches overall, he easily outproduced DeeJay Dallas (two touches for 27 total yards) and Tony Jones (four carries for 55 yards and one TD), and Carter salvaged a poor per-touch performance with a four-yard score early in the fourth quarter. Carter ends the 2024 campaign with 35 rushes for 131 yards (3.7 YPC) and one TD to go with 11 catches (on 11 targets) for 57 yards in three appearances, all of which occurred Weeks 16-18 with Conner and Benson either banged-up or sidelined. |
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Marvin Harrison Marvin Harrison Makes another end-zone visit
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 9:13 PM
Harrison recorded five catches (on six targets) for 63 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 47-24 victory against the 49ers.
Analysis: Harrison was the first non-quarterback selected (fourth overall) in the 2024 Draft, and he had his moments as a rookie, including four TD catches from Weeks 2-4 and two 100-yard performances. He also fell below 50 receiving yards 10 times in 17 outings en route to a composite 62-885-8 line on 116 targets. Harrison was a distant second to teammate TE Trey McBride (111-1,146-2 on 147 targets) in three major statistical categories for the campaign, but there's a chance the former begins to take on more attention from QB Kyler Murray in his second season. Overall, Harrison's fifth-place finish among first-year players in receiving yards behind the Jaguars' Brian Thomas (1,282), the Giants' Malik Nabers (1,204) the Raiders' Brock Bowers (1,194) and the Chargers' Ladd McConkey (1,149) is a respectable showing considering all but McConkey were first-round picks. |
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Trey McBride Trey McBride Catches another touchdown
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 8:57 PM
McBride brought in seven of 11 targets for 65 yards and one touchdown during Sunday's 47-24 win versus the 49ers.
Analysis: After failing to reach the end zone via a pass in each of his first 14 appearances of the campaign, McBride capped the season with TD catches in back-to-back games. He also paced the Cardinals in receptions (111), targets (147) and receiving yards (1,146), all of which ranked second to rookie sensation Brock Bowers among tight ends in the entire NFL. At least at the conclusion of this season, McBride is the clear top pass catcher for Arizona, but 2024 first-round pick Marvin Harrison (62-885-8 on 116 targets as a rookie) may begin to make inroads on that mantle as soon as next fall. As a 2022 second-rounder, McBride is extension-eligible this offseason, so he may receive a long-term commitment from the team in the coming months. |
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Kyler Murray Kyler Murray Tosses four TD passes in Week 18
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 8:46 PM
Murray completed 25 of 35 passes for 242 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions and reeled off 22 yards on three carries during Sunday's 47-24 win against the 49ers
Analysis: In leading the Cardinals to their highest point total in a game this season, Murray played turnover-free football for the sixth time in 17 contests and also tossed a campaign-high four TD passes, connecting with WR Greg Dortch twice (from 23 and two yards), TE Trey McBride (two yards) and WR Marvin Harrison (12 yards). Murray ends the season with a 68.8 completion percentage, 226.5 passing yards per game and a 21:11 TD:INT while notching 78 carries for 572 yards and five more scores. This season marked the first of the five-year, $230.5 million extension he signed in July 2022, and he'll welcome back all of Arizona's key skill-position talent, including RB James Conner (knee) and WR Michael Wilson (hamstring), once the team reconvenes for the offseason program. |
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Michael Wilson Michael Wilson Sitting out season finale
Sun, Jan 5, 2025, 2:03 PM
Wilson (hamstring) is listed as inactive Sunday versus the 49ers, Darren Urban of the Cardinals' official site reports.
Analysis: Wilson was a late-week addition to the Cardinals' practice report Friday as limited due to a hamstring injury. Such a development could have been worrisome for the second-year wide receiver, and indeed he won't be available to the offense Sunday. As a result, more targets have been freed up for the likes of Greg Dortch, Zay Jones, Zach Pascal and Xavier Weaver behind top WR Marvin Harrison. |
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Tony Jones Tony Jones Elevated for Week 18
Sat, Jan 4, 2025, 4:05 PM
The Cardinals elevated Jones from the practice squad to the active roster Saturday.
Analysis: Jones injured his shoulder during the preseason, which caused him to be let go by the Cardinals in late August with an injury settlement. He signed with Arizona's practice squad Dec. 18, and now that he's on the active roster, the 27-year-old will serve as the Cardinals' No. 3 running back behind Michael Carter and DeeJay Dallas for Sunday's regular-season finale against the 49ers. |
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Michael Wilson Michael Wilson Questionable for Sunday
Fri, Jan 3, 2025, 4:19 PM
Wilson is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the 49ers after being added to the injury report Friday with a hamstring injury, Bo Brack of GoPHNX.com reports.
Analysis: An end-of-week addition to the report isn't promising, and even more so because he's a wide receiver with a hamstring injury in Week 18 for a non-playoff team. It's possible the injury is minor enough that Wilson will play anyway, but the Cardinals may want to hold him back if it's a close call ahead of the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. A Week 18 absence for Wilson would leave more perimeter WR reps for Zay Jones, Zach Pascal and/or Xavier Weaver. |
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Michael Carter Michael Carter Jumps to active roster
Wed, Jan 1, 2025, 3:22 PM
The Cardinals signed Carter off the practice squad to the active roster Wednesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: Arizona placed its top two running backs James Conner (knee) and Trey Benson (ankle) on injured reserve over the last two days, necessitating at least one promotion to the active roster. Carter has received run the past two games, racking up 25 touches for 129 yards from scrimmage and no TDs. There's a good chance he serves as the team's No. 1 RB on Sunday against the 49ers, while DeeJay Dallas handles change-of-pace work out of the bacfield. |
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James Conner James Conner Moves to injured reserve
Wed, Jan 1, 2025, 3:10 PM
The Cardinals placed Conner (knee) on injured reserve Wednesday, Darren Urban of the team's official site reports.
Analysis: In the last two days, Arizona has placed its top two running backs on IR, with rookie third-round pick Trey Benson (ankle) getting deactivated Tuesday. Conner thus will finish the 2024 campaign with 283 touches for 1,508 yards from scrimmage and nine total touchdowns in 16 games. In a corresponding move, the Cardinals signed Michael Carter off the practice squad, and he likely will lead the backfield Sunday against the 49ers while DeeJay Dallas plays a complementary role. |
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