Another change with the Arizona Cardinals this week was the ascension of tight end Trey McBride as a team captain.
After the departure of captain and quarterback Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens, head coach Mike LaFleur decided to have McBride be a captain for the remaining eight games of the season.
LaFleur told everyone in a team meeting Wednesday before players dispersed for their unit meetings.
“It just felt right,” LaFleur said. “He was very close in the vote (prior to the season). And it was the right time. We could’ve just ridden it out, but Trey deserves this, and the guys look up to him because of one, the way he acts, but two, the way he plays.
“He earned it. I think you guys see what he does obviously with your eyes, but what he does for
this locker room and behind the scenes; he’s a stud and he deserves (being) captain.”
When asked about how McBride exemplifies leadership, LaFleur said, “There are two things about him. One, every single day he puts in the work and the guys see that. The way that he plays on Sunday, it’s how he practices, too. Maybe not as much (expletive) talking, but nonetheless he practices the right way. He practices like he wants to be the best in the world.
“The second thing that is awesome about any leader, about any person in general, is he is himself. He’s not trying to be anyone that he’s not. He loves this game, he loves that locker room and he loves doing what he can do for this organization.”
Following are what McBride has accomplished this season and what could happen in Sunday’s game against the Rams.
What he’s done …
- Set the NFL record for receptions by a tight end in their first five seasons with 420.
- Reached 400 receptions in his 73rd career game. Only Kellen Winslow Sr. in his 72nd game did that sooner.
- Prior to 2026, no one at any position had seven or more receptions in five consecutive games to begin a season.
- His 73 receptions this season are the most in club history in the first nine games of a season. Larry Fitzgerald had 68 in 2016.
What he can do Sunday ...
- With two receptions, he would pass Fitzgerald (74 in 2016) for the most receptions in franchise history through the first 10 games of a season.
- With two receptions, he would become the fifth tight end in NFL history with at least 75 receptions in four consecutive seasons, joining Travis Kelce (10 from 2016-25), Jason Witten (six from 2007-12), Todd Christensen (four from 1983-86) and Jimmy Graham (four from 2011-2014).
- With five catches, he would pass Zach Ertz (77 in 2018) for the most receptions in NFL history by a tight end in his team's first 10 games of a season.
- With at least five receptions, he would have five or more catches in a game for the 47th time in his career. That would pass Jimmy Graham (46) for the most by a tight end in his first five seasons in NFL history.
- With seven catches, he would reach 427 and would pass Fitzgerald (426) for the most receptions in club history in a player's first five seasons.
- With at least seven receptions, he would have seven or more catches for the 12th consecutive game. He would join Antonio Brown (14) as the only players in NFL history to have a streak of at least 12 games with at least seven receptions. He is currently tied at 11 with former Rams receiver Cooper Kupp, who did it in 2021. He would also have at least seven receptions in all 10 games this season, extending his record for the most such games to start a season.
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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Trey McBride named new captain for Arizona Cardinals
