Trey McBride has been targeted 92 times this season, 13th most in the NFL and that's after missing a game with a concussion.
The tight end doesn't have a touchdown among those targets.
He has scored twice this year – once on a fumble recovery, once on an end-around – but he is waiting still for that six-point connection between he and Kyler Murray.
"I give (Kyler) a hard time, but honestly that's not really the main focus," McBride said. "I've caught a ton of balls this year and I am grateful for the offense that I'm in. We've missed on a couple. I feel like I've dropped two – I dropped that fade (against the Jets) and that one against the 49ers.
"I just feel like if I catch those all this talk is gone. Kyler would want to throw me a touchdown – I'm sure he's not trying to not (throw one.)"
So McBride has a zero in the TD catches column. It's about the only place he hasn't piled up numbers.
The tight end (and newest Cardinals nominee for Walter Payton Man of the Year) has made 12 catches in each of the last two games. Now with 73 receptions for 781 yards, he should smash his personal bests of 81 and 825 set last season and should become the only Cardinals tight end not named Jackie Smith to reach 1,000 yards.
No tight end before McBride has had double-digit receptions in a game. Not only has he done it two weeks in a row, he is the first tight end in NFL history to go 12-12 in back-to-back games. He also had two 10-catch games last season.
If he can make at least 10 receptions Sunday against the Seahawks – and it would seem that Seattle will be prepared to handle McBride better this time around – he would be the first tight end in NFL history to have three straight double-digit catch games.
"They've had some good tight ends to run through this franchise, so for me to be considered and talked about with some of these great tight ends is very special," McBride said. "For me I try to play the best football I can play, and if that is catching one ball or catching 12 balls, I'm going to give it my all."
McBride's four 100-yard games in two-and-a-half seasons is second in franchise history – although Smith had 22, so topping that is probably a long shot.
"When you have players of that caliber," offensive coordinator Drew Petzing said, "they are always going to be forefront of your mind when you design the offense and you design the passing game."
Earlier this season, coach Jonathan Gannon said McBride was essentially the team's No. 1 receiver. McBride doesn't really want to go there, noting that it's not something he's looking for and how rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. draws so much attention it's allowed him to get open more easily.
But at this rate, McBride is going to keep posting big stats, and eventually a discussion about catching some of Smith's bigger career records.
"It would be great, especially with a Hall of Fame tight end that has played in this organization," McBride said. "To beat some of the records he's produced and to be considered one of the greatest tight ends in Cardinals history would be special. I hope I can continue to grow that, beat some records, and hopefully solidify myself as one of the best tight ends for this organization."
As far as touchdowns? Murray said they are coming – "That's a weird stat because he's going crazy," the QB said – and McBride sounds confident the goose egg won't remain.
"Whatever it is, we're going to get one soon, and they are going to come in bunches," McBride said. "I'm going to have three, four, five, six when I catch one. It's going to be great."
