During one of Jonathan Gannon's multiple lengthy answers on Tuesday about wide receiver Greg Dortch – the 5-foot-7 fan favorite who has worked his way from 2021 camp body to expected starter in 2024 – he briefly paused.
"He's going to have a big year, guys," the coach said.
That's not the kind of comment Gannon delivers without meaning. Dortch is the first to understand.
"I love to hear that from the guy who runs everything," Dortch said.
"It feels great but it's not here yet. I still have to go and put in the work, I still have to show up every single day and be consistent. That's what this job takes. It feels good to have people believe in you, but if I don't put in the work and it doesn't show on Sunday, it doesn't mean anything."
Dortch is 26, an underdog in every way. He was two days away from flying to Canada and joining the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in the CFL, his NFL dreams possibly over for good, when the Cardinals called. They had DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk and, in theory, no long-term need for the short return man from Wake Forest.
Yet here he is now, his name alongside Marvin Harrison Jr. and Michael Wilson as a starter on the initial depth chart. No matter how much Gannon downplays that list in preseason, it's meaningful Dortch has such a spot.
"I would be lying if I said it doesn't," he said.
Dortch had 52 catches in 2022 – when he filled in for Hopkins much of the time when Hopkins was suspended or hurt – and that number dropped to 24 last season, in part because of the offense the Cardinals now run. But his yards per catch rose to 11.7 and when Dortch did make a catch, it seemed to make an impact, whether it was his ankle-breaking TD catch-and-run in Chicago or his huge play on the game-winning drive at Philadelphia.
But Gannon needs more than that from his roster, and in Dortch, he gets it.
"G has got this look in his eye that he's just ready to fight," Gannon said. "He's ready to go all the time, that he's about ball. I don't know what a gamer is, but he's a gamer. In stretch lines today, if you walked by and shook his hand, you'd see the look in his eye that he's ready to buckle up and play football. I appreciate that about him."
Dortch may not have gotten the playing time for which he hoped last season, but he has learned patience. It's a must, living the journey he has had. He vibes with Gannon – Dortch said he tries to be the first in the building and last to leave, and Gannon has noticed the work – and has taken a role of one of the veteran mentors in the receiving room.
"I don't feel like I've made it, but I feel like I've gained the respect and I've earned that," Dortch said.
Dortch as starter and Dortch as key offensive cog are two different things, however. His whole family is scheduled to attend the opener in Buffalo, when Dortch's progress will be tested for the first time. He is already a fan favorite, which he says he appreciates greatly -- all while understanding the circumstances around it.
"I go out on Sunday and I drop a pass, it might be 'F Greg Dortch,' Know what I'm saying?" he said. "It comes with it."
Gannon still thinks Dortch has yet to hit his ceiling, so more is expected – even as Dortch has left a trail of highlights during training camp. If Dortch finds that ceiling, it would be a memorable ending to a memorable story.
"It's been a storm," Dortch said, "but I wouldn't change anything."
FROHOLDT, ZAY JONES RETURN
The Cardinals were back on the field for practice although a light "low" workout coming off their break. Three players who missed most of last week – center Hjalte Froholdt, wide receiver Zay Jones, and cornerback Kei'Trel Clark – were back and working. Cornerbacks Max Melton and Garrett Williams were absent, as was defensive lineman Justin Jones.
The Cardinals are scheduled to have a full padded practice on Wednesday, the final open practice of the State Farm portion of camp. They do have two open workouts in Indianapolis next week.
