Nathaniel Hackett had a simple read on what the Detroit Lions threw at the Arizona Cardinals in Week 5: it was different, and it was working.
That was the problem for Trey McBride and Michael Wilson, Arizona’s clear top targets on offense. The Cardinals expected to lean on those two, but Detroit made life difficult by crowding McBride and limiting the easy answers.
“That was pretty unique. The closest thing I ever saw was vs. the Ravens with Davante Adams, and I think there were, like, two to three guys on him the whole time.
We just have to keep scheming it, keep teaching guys even how to get open versus double coverage-all kinds of stuff. But yeah, it was fascinating,” Hackett said.
McBride’s frustration showed on the sideline, and Jacoby Brissett said he had to walk him through what he was seeing on the tablet.
“Yeah, it was about the double-team stuff. I had to bring the tablet over, and I’m like, ‘Look, bro, I don’t know what you want.
#Cardinals OC Nathaniel Hackett on teams double-teaming both Trey McBride and Michael Wilson:
— Ari Meirov (@MySportsUpdate) October 15, 2026
“That was pretty unique. The closest thing I ever saw was vs. the Ravens with Davante Adams, and I think there were, like, two to three guys on him the whole time. We just have to keep… https://t.co/8ovBWnO8XG pic.twitter.com/Qpi7Vhk8MH
I can’t force that in and put the team in jeopardy.’ He understands that.
It’s the competitor in him,” Brissett said.
Even with the extra attention, McBride still finished with nine catches for 66 yards and a touchdown. It wasn’t a quiet outing by any means, but it wasn’t enough to keep Arizona from a 45-21 loss.
For the Cardinals, the bigger issue is what comes next. They’re 1-4 now, and finding better answers for how to get McBride and Wilson involved has become part of the job.
In Other News...
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Rallis has been open about the fact that something may need to change if this group is going to stabilize. For a defense that has spent much of the season chasing games instead of controlling them, the challenge now is finding a fix fast enough to matter before the schedule puts even more pressure on a unit that has already absorbed plenty of it. [Read more 🡒]
Trey McBride Is Sending Cardinals Fans A Risky Message
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That matters for a roster and fan base that have heard plenty of talk about progress without enough results to match it. McBride is clearly aware of the frustration, but his commitment to being part of whatever comes next gives the Cardinals a little more credibility than empty optimism usually does. The tension now is whether his belief in the teams direction is enough to hold up if the losses keep coming. [Read more 🡒]
Cardinals Suddenly Have A Week 6 Concern They Can't Ignore
The Cardinals got their Week 6 injury picture into sharper focus Thursday, and the most notable development came with rookie running back Jeremiyah Love. Arizona and the Rams both released their practice reports ahead of Sundays meeting at SoFi Stadium, but Love was absent for a second straight day because of ankle issues, leaving his availability in real doubt as the week heads toward the final update.
For a Cardinals offense still trying to settle into a rhythm, any uncertainty around Love matters, especially with the game only days away. The Rams report had its own moving parts, with Trost and Curl newly added while Bachman showed more participation, but Arizonas attention is clearly on whether Love can turn the corner in time for kickoff and give the team one less problem to manage on the road. [Read more 🡒]