The Arizona Cardinals are making some late-week roster adjustments ahead of Sunday’s matchup with the Los Angeles Rams, and the moves speak volumes about the state of their wide receiver room.
First, wideout Greg Dortch, who had already been ruled out with a chest injury, is now officially on injured reserve. That’s a tough blow for an offense that’s already thin at receiver, especially considering Dortch’s versatility and special teams value. In his place, the Cardinals have signed linebacker Channing Tindall to the active roster.
Tindall isn’t a new face - he’s been elevated from the practice squad each of the last two weeks, primarily contributing on special teams. Now, he gets a more permanent spot on the 53-man roster. While it’s unlikely he’ll see major defensive snaps right away, his speed and range make him a solid fit for Arizona’s coverage units.
But the bigger story here is the wide receiver situation. With Marvin Harrison Jr. ruled out due to a heel injury and Dortch now on IR, the Cardinals are dangerously low on healthy bodies at the position. Xavier Weaver is listed as questionable with a hamstring issue and is not expected to suit up, which leaves the team with just four healthy receivers heading into Sunday.
To help fill the void, Arizona elevated two receivers from the practice squad: Trent Sherfield and Jalen Brooks. Sherfield brings a veteran presence and has experience in multiple offensive systems, while Brooks is a younger option who’s shown flashes in limited opportunities.
That means the Cardinals will likely roll into their NFC West clash with Michael Wilson, Andre Baccellia, Sherfield, and Brooks as their active receiving corps. It’s a patchwork group, and it puts added pressure on the run game and tight ends to pick up the slack in the passing attack.
For quarterback Kyler Murray, it’s going to be a test of chemistry and adaptability. Wilson’s been a steady target when healthy, but beyond that, this is a group that hasn’t logged many reps together. Expect Arizona to lean on quick reads, short routes, and perhaps some creative personnel groupings to keep the Rams’ defense honest.
It’s not the ideal scenario, especially against a Rams team that’s fighting to stay in the playoff mix. But it’s also a chance for some lesser-known names to step up and make a case for more playing time down the stretch.