Cardinals Get Big Injury News for Key Passing Target

The Arizona Cardinals come into Pittsburgh with a very banged-up team for their Week 13 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but they got some good news early on Sunday about one of their top offensive playmakers.

Tight end Trey McBride is expected to suit up against the Steelers, according to a report by Adam Schefter of ESPN on Sunday morning.

McBride was officially listed as questionable with a groin injury, but had said himself earlier this week that he expected to play.

“Feeling healthy,” McBride said to AZCardinals.com. “Excited and ready to go this week.”

A second-round pick out of Colorado State in 2022, McBride took over as the starter after Zach Ertz went down with an injury and has responded well. He is second on the team in targets (65), receptions (48) and yards (521).

So well, in fact, that the Cardinals released Ertz this week.

McBride should be a tough matchup for the Steelers, who have dealt with some of the top tight ends in the NFL already this season, and done OK.

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle had three catches for 19 yards against the Steelers in Week 1. Mark Andrews caught six passes for 65 yards with the Baltimore Ravens in Week 4. Evan Engram is the one that got them. The Jacksonville Jaguars tight end went off form 10 catches for 88 yards in Week 8.

Kittle is third, Andrews fourth, Engram sixth and McBride seventh in receiving yards among NFL tight ends this season. T.J. Hockensen of the Minnesota Vikings is first with 786 yards.

With Ertz released, it would have been a steep drop-off after McBride if he couldn’t play. Geoff Swaim is the next man up. He has just eight catches all season.