Latest news with #Dortch
USA Today
27-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Cardinals training camp: WR3 is one of top position battles to watch
The battle appears to be primarily between Greg Dortch and Zay Jones, but Xavier Weaver could be a wild card. The Arizona Cardinals have a number of notable position battles as they have begun training camp. Some battles are for starting jobs, while others are for key reserve spots. A pair of position believed to have key battles — right guard and "Mike" linebacker — seem to be set with new starters. Others, though, have intrigue. Cardinals training camp position battle: Wide receiver The top two receiver spots are set with Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. The position battle is at No. 3. Last season, Greg Dortch began the season as the clear No. 3, playing in the slot. However, as the season progressed, Harrison and then, more so, Wilson played more in the slot, and Zay Jones got more snaps as the third receiver. Dortch is dynamic when he gets the ball in his hands. Wilson in the slot and Jones on the outside gives the Cardinals both speed on the outside (Harrison and Jones) and size at all three spots (all are at least 6-2). A possible wild card in the WR3 mix is second-year player Xavier Weaver, who made the team out of camp last year as an undrafted rookie and got a little playing time at the end of the year. He, too, is a good fit in the slot. Dortch probably has one job secure as the team's punt returner and as the second kick returner with DeeJay Dallas. But as camp progresses, watch the way both Dortch and Jones are used in the preseason and in camp practices. This will be one of the more fun positions to watch. 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.
USA Today
09-07-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
2025 Arizona Cardinals training camp roster preview: WR Greg Dortch
We will preview every player on the Cardinals roster leading up to training camp. This is about WR Greg Dortch. The Arizona Cardinals report to training camp on July 22 and begin the process of preparing for the regular season, forming the roster and determining starting jobs and roles on the team. Leading up to the start of camp, we will take a look at every player on the offseason roster, their background, their contract, their play in 2024, questions they face and their roster outlook. This focuses on receiver Greg Dortch. Greg Dortch background, 2024 season Dortch enters his seventh NFL season and his fifth with the Cardinals. He entered the league as a rookie free agent out of Wake Forest in 2019, signing with the New York Jets. He spent time on the Jets' practice squad and was signed by the Carolina Panthers, appearing in two games and returning four punts and spending time on their practice squad. He spent the offseason with the LA Rams and later spent time on the Atlanta Falcons' practice squad. He joined the Cardinals in 2021, first on the practice squad and then to the active roster late in the year. He has been with the team ever since. He has been the team's primary punt returner for three seasons and became the team's second kick returner last season. He was also the team's primary slot receiver for much of the season. In 2024, he had 37 catches for 342 yards and three touchdowns. He averaged a career-high 9.6 yards per punt and 26.6 yards per kickoff. Greg Dortch 2025 contract details, cap hit Dortch was a restricted free agent this offseason and was given a low qualifying tender. He signed it, which will pay him a little less than $3.3 million in salary. It will also be his cap hit. His salary is not guaranteed. Questions he faces, roster outlook After he had his role reduced last season late in the year on offense, can he win the primary slot receiver job back? Late in the year, Michael Wilson saw more time in the slot with Zay Jones playing outside as the WR3. While his non-guaranteed contract perhaps casts some doubt on whether he is a lock to make the roster, he is at worst a favorite. He is expected to be the team's punt returner, one of their kick returners and to have a role on offense. Unless someone else clearly beats him out for the return role, Dortch is a sure bet to make the active roster. 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.
USA Today
24-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals WR Greg Dortch doesn't want to give up role on special teams
Greg Dortch enters his fifth season with the Cardinals. Despite any increase in role on offense, he always wants be a returner. Wide receiver Greg Dortch is entering his seventh season in the NFL and fifth with the Cardinals. He has become the longest-tenured player at his position on the team. He has seen his role grow over the years as a slot receiver in addition to his work on special teams as a returner. It is a role he doesn't ever want to give up. Holding onto special teams is a reminder of how he carved out a role in the NFL, as he went undrafted out of Wake Forest. "That's been my niche in the NFL — special teams — and it will always be my niche," he said during minicamp. "That's the way into a roster, and I take special teams very seriously." He has been the team's punt returner for multiple seasons and, last season, he was added to the kickoff team as one of the two deep guys for kickoffs with DeeJay Dallas. With changes to the kickoff rule this year, there is expected to be a big jump in the number of returnable kicks. That excites Dortch. "I'm super excited for that," he said. "At the beginning of last year, I was hoping to step into more of a role on kick return. I was just mainly a punt returner. "DeeJay took one back the first game (a 96-yard kickoff return touchdown). I was cool with that, but just to be back there with him now, I'm definitely excited to step into that role." Dortch understands the value of an electrifying return on the crowd. "I just feel like it changes the game. The game might be close and they punt me the ball, and I take it back for a touchdown. Now we're up," he said. "It's another factor to the game. Special teams wins and loses games in NFL. The margin is so small, and if you have a dynamic punt returner or kick returner who can impact the game, it's big." Last season, he averaged a career-high 9.6 yards per punt return, with a long of 27 yards. He also averaged a career-high 26.6 per kick return. We can expect to see him back fielding kicks and punts again in 2025. 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.
USA Today
18-04-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
WR Greg Dortch officially signs one-year tender to return to Arizona Cardinals in 2025
WR Greg Dortch officially signs one-year tender to return to Arizona Cardinals in 2025 Dortch, a restricted free agent, returns to the Cardinals for a fifth season. It is official. Wide receiver Greg Dortch is back with the Arizona Cardinals. The team announced Friday that Dortch signed the one-year tender that was extended to him as a restricted free agent last month. He returns for his fifth season with the team. The tender was for a one-year contract worth almost $3.3 million, but that deal has no guarantees. He will have to make the final roster to earn it. As a restricted free agent, he was free to negotiate with other teams and sign an offer sheet, but the Cardinals, under the right-of-first-refusal tender offer they gave Dortch, would have been able to match any contract he was offered. Dortch has been the team's primary punt returner and a rotational receiver for the last three seasons. In 2024, he averaged 9.6 yards on 21 punt returns. He also caught 37 passes for 342 yards and a career-high three touchdowns. As the roster now stands, he will battle Zay Jones for the No. 3 receiver job behind Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson. 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.
USA Today
17-04-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Deadline for WR Greg Dortch approaching to find offer from another team
When the 2025 league year began on March 12, there were only 13 players who received tenders as restricted free agents. That group included Arizona Cardinals wide receiver/return specialist Greg Dortch, who was tendered a one-year contract for $3.263 million, which is the lowest of the four levels. When a player is tendered it counts immediately against the salary cap. With Friday (April 18) the deadline for players to sign offer sheets with new teams, five remained unsigned, including Dortch. The others are Falcons center Ryan Neuzil, Ravens safety Ar'Darius Washington, Jaguars tackle Cole Van Lanen and Steelers running back Jaylen Warren. Of the eight that have signed, 49ers running back Jordan Mason was traded to the Vikings, while the Patriots matched an offer the Raiders made to linebacker Christian Elliss. The others signed their tender. The number of RFAs has decreased in recent years because of the four-year contracts drafted players receive as well as the increasing value of the tenders. To that end, there were 46 potential RFAs that didn't receive a tender, making them total free agents. That included three Cardinals: outside linebacker Jesse Luketa, safety Andre Chachere and offensive lineman Carter O'Donnell. Of those 46, 26 have signed new contracts, all for amounts less than the lowest tender. Fourteen returned to their team, while 12 signed with new teams. The Cardinals trio remain free agents. 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 onSpotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.
