TEMPE — The depth behind the Arizona Cardinals’ starting lineup is again getting tested this week with playmaker and tight end Trey McBride ruled out against the Washington Commanders with a concussion.
He marks the second Cardinals starter sidelined for the upcoming contest this week after defensive lineman Justin Jones was lost for the season with a triceps injury suffered last week.
Losing McBride is tough. Entering Week 4, McBride is pacing the team in catches with 14 (21 targets) for 122 yards.
Only Marvin Harrison Jr. has recorded more targets (22) and yards (198) than McBride. He’s yet to find the end zone through the air but did score on a fumble recovery in Week 2.
“Obviously, that hurts us that he may or may not be in the game. But for me, I got all the faith in Elijah (Higgins) and Tip (Reiman)” quarterback Kyler Murray said Wednesday.
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With McBride out this weekend, Higgins serves as the most likely candidate to command the majority of the tight end targets against a Washington defense that has been gashed in the passing game to the tune of 291.7 yards per game. That ranks 31st among NFL defenses.
The Commanders, however, haven’t allowed much from a tight ends standpoint. Across three games, Washington has given up nine catches for 74 yards and no touchdowns to opposing tight ends.
That included shutting down Cincinnati Bengals tight end Mike Gesicki, who is second on his team with 14 catches and 156 receiving yards.
Higgins has been praised for his continued transformation from a wide receiver to tight end in Year 2 with the Cardinals.
“I’m completely good with ‘Higgy Bear,’” head coach Jonathan Gannon said Wednesday. “He’s a good player.”
The 6-foot-3, 235-pounder presents another big-bodied target for quarterback Kyler Murray and has already shown off his improved connection with his pass catcher despite limited opportunities in 2024.
In the Cardinals’ Week 2 win over the Los Angeles Rams, Higgins was on the other end of an improbable 18-yard touchdown strike from Murray.
The play had a little bit of everything, from Murray putting defenders on skates to Higgins’ awareness to find open space with his signal caller on the run.
KYLER MURRAY ARE YOU SERIOUS?! 😱
📺: #LARvsAZ on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO909ge pic.twitter.com/gfHzqbrZ0w— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
Per Zebra Sports, the touchdown had a completion probability of 24.7%, the second-lowest mark among tight ends at the time.
Higgins also hasn’t dropped a pass, catching all four of his targets for 41 yards and the score.
“He’s a very talented player. He’s in a room that’s really competitive … and he’s competing. He’s very coachable and wants to keep learning,” pass game specialist Spencer Whipple told Arizona Sports back in August.
“There’s a transition from playing receiver your whole life and then going to tight end. He’s grasped hold of that and now he’s just trying to improve on the little details that he can. Technique, fundamentals, always asking questions, wanting to learn more and eager on the practice fields and in the meeting room.”
Arizona Cardinals TE Elijah Higgins is expected to have an increased workload with Trey McBride out vs. the Commanders. pic.twitter.com/giXQidxBBd
— Tyler Drake (@Tdrake4sports) September 27, 2024
What about Tip Reiman taking snaps with Trey McBride out?
Through three games into rookie Tip Reiman’s NFL career, the tight end has more starts (one) than targets (zero).
He came in classified as a blocking tight end and he’s been exactly that for Arizona.
Does that change this week with McBride out?
The Cardinals like to operate with multiple tight ends and while Reiman’s target share isn’t expected to jump off the page this week, he could find himself picking up some of the scraps similarly to how Higgins has operated.
Travis Vokolek could be another Cardinals tight end in line for added reps, though much like Reiman, has been used primarily as a blocker.