Team news: Arizona Cardinals

S Jalen Thompson is a Thursday add with an ankle issue. RB James Conner remains limited with a finger injury.

Related Players: Trey Benson, Emari Demercado

Demercado has seen far more 2024 action than Benson, but you'd have to think the rookie would see more run if Conner misses Week 10. That said, both back-ups will likely be stay-aways in most fantasy formats against the Jets defense.

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said Saturday WR Marvin Harrison Jr cleared concussion protocol and will play Monday against the Chargers.

Harrison ends up not missing any time. He suffered the injury in Week 6 but was a full participant in practice Friday. The Chargers are a top-ten passing defense but as the top receiver for Kyler Murray, Harrison is still worthy of a WR2/WR3 spot.

Arizona announced on Tuesday that defensive lineman Bilal Nichols and kicker Matt Prater on IR.

Related players: Chad Ryland

Prater has been dealing with a knee injury, missing the last two games. With Prater out, Chad Ryland has been signed to the 53-man roster from the club’s practice squad. He’s connected on 5-of-6 field goal attempts and 2-of-2 extra points this season, the story said.

The Cardinals have activated WR Zay Jones to the 53-man roster.

Relaetd players: Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, Greg Dortch

The Cards suspended Jones for five games but he didn't return in Week 6 due to a hamstring injury. With Harrison dealing with a concussion, the Cards could possibly welcome the return of Jones to the lineup rather quickly. The WR group didn't do much for the Cardinals in Week 6 as Dortch went for 3-36-0 and Wilson 2-21-1. Jones is worth a pickup with the hope he climbs the depth chart and perhaps carves out a WR2 role.

Cardinals TE Trey McBride was downgraded Saturday to questionable for Sunday’s game against the 49ers with an injury to his ribs.

McBride missed Week 4 with a concussion and had just came back from the concussion protocol. Elijah Higgins has three targets and just two catches in the 42-14 Week 4 loss to Washington.

Gannon injury update:
TE McBride good to go Sunday.
DL Tonga and K Prater “we will see.”
CB Garrett Williams “probably not” going to play

Related Players: Elijah Higgins

With McBride ready to go, he needs to be in lineups, having accrued 14-122-0 on 20 targets through three games. Higgins can readily be dropped back into waiver wires.

Gannon:

Trey McBride will be back at practice.

No Darius Robinson this week for practice.

Related Players: Elijah Higgins

If McBride's ready to go, he needs to be in lineups, having accrued 14-122-0 on 20 targets through three games. Higgins can readily be dropped back into waiver wires.

Gannon: TE Trey McBride will not play Sunday after concussion.

Related Players: Elijah Higgins

Elijah Higgins (4-41-1) is the only other tight end who has caught a pass this season, so he would presumably be the next man up, though some sort of rotation with third-round rookie Tip Reiman is likely in the cards. It would be nice to see Reiman carve out a bit of a role here for Dynasty managers in deep leagues, but no reason to start either of them in Week 4.

Arizona Cardinals HC Jonathan Gannon says TE Trey McBride is in concussion protocol.

Related players: Elijah Higgins, Tip Reiman, Travis Vokolek

Gannon said the team will have to see how McBride goes throughout the week, and fantasy owners will need to monitor his progress as well. We list Higgins as next up on the depth chart, but Reiman was a fairly highly-rated rookie at the position for those who remember his name from dynasty leagues.

Marvin Harrison was missing for much of Sunday’s opener against the Bills, although he appeared to be open near the end zone on a play when Kyler Murray threw elsewhere near the end of the 34-28 loss.

On Tuesday, offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said “the plan” is to get the ball in Harrison’s hands more often.

We may see an over-correction in Week 2 where Harrison gets fed the ball early and often in an effort to get him going, but that remains to be seen. Harrison was targeted with three passes and caught one pass for three yards in Week 1.