Cardinals receiver Greg Dortch ready for expanded role

When the Cardinals repeatedly feed Greg Dortch with the football, he delivers catch after catch after catch. When they don’t, they don’t seem to know what they’re missing.

Over the past two seasons, since becoming more integrated into the regular offense, Dortch has caught 55 passes for 464 yards in the eight games in which he was targeted seven or more times. If they threw that many punches at him all the time, he would average seven receptions and at least 60 yards per game.

That begs the question: Why was he only targeted twice in his first nine games overall a year ago and only three times or fewer in nine other games during the 2022 season?

Dortch often asked himself the same question.

Then again, the determined 5-foot-7 wide receiver has always had to scratch and claw for any opportunity he can find. Whether it was going undrafted at Wake Forest or bouncing between four different NFL teams in three years before joining the Cardinals, it was always a struggle.

He now enters his sixth season in the NFL and his fourth in Arizona, where he happens to be the club’s longest-tenured receiver.

“It’s a small change, but it’s a big change,” Dortch said Thursday from the team’s practice facility in Tempe. “It’s been six years, but I haven’t played six years. So I still feel quite young. I always feel like I’ve just arrived. But you all know me, man. My point of view and my mentality have always been the same. As soon as I get the opportunity, I will show everyone what I can do.

Dortch’s role is expected to expand in 2024, although the Cardinals landed a potential superstar receiver in rookie first-round pick Marvin Harrison Jr. They also added some veterans in Zay Jones and Chris Moore to a group of pass catchers that includes rising star tight end Trey McBride and talented second-year receiver Michael Wilson.

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Dortch is expected to be the team’s primary slot receiver in addition to his work on special teams as a returner. There will likely be times when he also slides to the outside to give opposing defenses a different look.

It doesn’t matter where Dortch lines up, according to starting quarterback Kyler Murray. Place him anywhere, the quarterback said, and he will play.

“I feel like Dortch is out of control,” Murray said a few weeks ago. “One-on-one, knowing where to be in zones, he has just the nuance and feel that you want in a receiver and not everyone has that. I say that because it’s not very common.”

“He is 5-7 years old. If he were 6-3, he would be a top 5 pick in the NFL Draft. That’s what I think. That’s the kind of football player he is. And again, he loves the game. I would go to war with Greg any day.

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When asked if he was aware of these comments, Dortch said he was and that he was grateful.

“It makes me feel good,” he said, smiling. “The confidence is there, clearly. Hell yeah, he’s my quarterback. So to hear that coming from him, the guy who’s going to throw me the ball, it makes me feel good.

Dortch has been waiting for his chance to become more involved in the offensive game plan and feels his patience and hard work is paying off.

“Yes, I’m more than just a return player,” he said. “I feel like I showed it. And I’m going to continue to show it. But I’m just thrilled to take on this new role and I’m really looking forward to it.

“My comfort comes from the work I have done. Not while everyone is watching, but from the work I’ve done when no one is watching. I think work allows me to be confident and give my best. When my number is called and I get a chance to play, I’m going to play.

That includes playing on special teams, especially when he’s a returning player with the league’s new rules regarding kickoffs.

“You don’t have guys running full speed. It only starts when I catch the ball or the ball hits the ground,” he said. “It’s kind of an advantage for me. The game is a little slower…and if you get past that first level, it’s just you and the kicker. I’ll take my chances with that.

But it is in attack that he intends to shine the most. He earned the trust of coach Jonathan Gannon and offensive coordinator Drew Petzing. Now, he says, it’s about making the most of more opportunities.

This could be a special year for Greg Dortch.

“I think so,” he said. “I think I worked my butt off to win this. This is where the real work begins. Everything I’ve done so far has prepared me for this moment and this is just the beginning. You really haven’t seen anything yet.