Latest news with #GregDortch
USA Today
2 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Chiefs vs. Cardinals: Patrick Mahomes connects with underrated WR for early touchdown
First celly of the year 😮💨#ForTheCelly | @budlight The Kansas City Chiefs wasted no time getting into gear against the Arizona Cardinals in their first preseason game of 2025. After Harrison Butker kicked the ball downfield to start the game, the Cardinals' wide receiver Greg Dortch coughed up the ball on his return in a play that resulted in Kansas City taking possession. Once quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense took the field, it took only a few plays for the two-time MVP to find veteran wide receiver Jason Brownlee in the corner of the end zone for Kansas City's first touchdown. Take a look at this video of Mahomes' impressive pass to Brownlee, which was posted to Twitter by the Chiefs' official account: While fans should hardly expect Kansas City to blow out Arizona on the road through the rest of Saturday's game, the impressive throw by Mahomes is a good omen for the Chiefs to start the preseason.
USA Today
6 days ago
- Sport
- USA Today
Arizona Cardinals depth chart: 6 observations with initial depth chart of preseason
We have the Cardinals' first depth chart. What do we learn? The Arizona Cardinals have a preseason game this week against the Kansas City Chiefs and released their first depth chart of the preseason. For the most part, it comes without surprises. The players you expect to see as starters are starters. That said, there are a few observations worth noting. Arizona Cardinals depth chart: Preseason Week 1 observations Zay Jones in the lead for WR 3 Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson are locked in with top two receiver spots. Jones is listed as the top slot receiver. He saw his role grow late last season and has received plenty of praise from head coach Jonathan Gannon. He probably won't play in the slot, but he can. Greg Dortch not listed in the slot The listed position isn't that important, but seeing Dortch in a position other that slot receiver on the depth chart is new. Darius Robinson a starter Seeing veterans Dalvin Tomlinson and Calais Campbell as starters is no surprise. Neither is seeing the 2024 first-round pick, but he is ahead of Justin Jones, who has been a starter every season in the NFL other than his rookie season. Akeem Davis-Gaither in the lead at LB Mack Wilson has been established as the starting "Mike" linebacker, the player with the radio in his helmet to receive the playcalls from defensive coordinator Nick Rallis. Davis-Gaither leads Owen Pappoe for the other starting job, in what is one of the more notable position battles. Will Johnson a starter This is also not a surprise, considering the season-ending ACL tear to cornerback Star Thomas. But the trio of starters are a rookie, a second-year player (Max Melton) and a third-year player (Garrett Williams). No insight to returners Only DeeJay Dallas and Greg Dortch are listed as kick and punt returners, so we don't know who else might be in the mix and who else will get work in those roles in the preseason opener on Saturday. 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
16-06-2025
- Sport
- USA Today
83 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 83?
83 days till the Arizona Cardinals' 2025 season opener: Who has worn No. 83? With 83 days till the Cardinals open the season against the Saints, we look at the players who have worn No. 83. We are counting down to the start of the 2025 regular season for the Arizona Cardinals and are now less than 12 weeks away. They will open the season on the road against the New Orleans Saints on Sept. 7. That is 83 days away. As we count down the remaining days of the offseason, let's look at who has worn that number uniform over the years for the Cardinals. Who has worn No. 83? Cardinals players to wear No. 83 No. 83 now belongs to second-year receiver Tejhaun Palmer, drafted by the Cardinals last year in the sixth round. He spent all season on the practice squad. WR Tejhaun Palmer (2024-?) WR Greg Dortch (2021-2023) TE Kory Sperry (2012-2013) WR Jaymar Johnson (2011) TE Stephen Spach (2008-2010) TE Troy Bienemann (2007) TE Eric Edwards (2004-2005) WR Bryant Johnson (2003) WR Jason McAddley (2002) WR Tywan Mitchell (2000-2001) TE Derek Brown (1999) WR Anthony Edwards (1992-1997) WR Amod field (1991) WR Don Holmes (1987-1990) WR Ron Brown (1987) WR Pat Tilley (1976-1986) TE Jim McFarland (1970-1971) TE Chuck Logan (1965-1968) WR Perry Richards (1959) WR Max Boydston (1955-1958) WR Mel Embree, WR Gary Knafelc (1954) DE/WR/K Pat Summerall (1953) WR/HB Ray Pelfrey (1952) Tilley was the Cardinals' best No. 83, as he played for the team for over a decade. Edwards was solid as a special teams player and then spent over two decades in the front office before retiring in 2021. 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.
