Higgins went without a target while playing 16 of the Cardinals' 71 snaps on offense in Sunday's 30-18 loss to the Seahawks. Higgins looks to have dropped to third on the depth chart at tight end behind Trey McBride and Tip Reiman, both of whom have played more snaps than Higgins in each of the last three contests. Despite the downturn in playing time, Higgins had still remained involved in the passing game until Week 14. He had drawn at least one target in each of his last six appearances prior to Sunday.
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Status
ACTIVELatest Elijah Higgins news
Team
Arizona Cardinals
Birthdate
10/27/2000 (24)
Status
Active
HT/WT
6'3", 235 lbs
Draft Info
2023: Rd 6; Pk (MIA)
Birthplace
Austin, TX, USA
Position
TE
College
Stanford
Experience
2 seasons
Career History
Arizona Cardinals
2023-Present
(2 seasons)
Miami Dolphins
2023-2023
(1 season)
Higgins went without a target while playing 16 of the Cardinals' 71 snaps on offense in Sunday's 30-18 loss to the Seahawks. Higgins looks to have dropped to third on the depth chart at tight end behind Trey McBride and Tip Reiman, both of whom have played more snaps than Higgins in each of the last three contests. Despite the downturn in playing time, Higgins had still remained involved in the passing game until Week 14. He had drawn at least one target in each of his last six appearances prior to Sunday.
Higgins gathered in one of two targets for five yards during Sunday's 16-6 defeat in Seattle. On the other side of the Cardinals' Week 11 bye, Higgins extended his streak with exactly two targets to four games, but he brought in only one of them this time around. Working in an offense with TE Trey McBride (12-133-0 line on 15 targets Sunday) doesn't leave much volume behind for his position mates, and WRs Marvin Harrison and Michael Wilson and RB James Conner typically are on the receiving end of most of QB Kyler Murray's other passes. Higgins' next chance to produce arrives this coming Sunday at Minnesota.
Higgins hauled in both of his targets for 13 yards during Sunday's 31-6 victory versus the Jets. Higgins now has recorded exactly two catches in three consecutive games, resulting in a modest 6-60-0 line on six targets. In Week 10, he ranked third (49 percent) among Cardinals tight ends in snap share behind Trey McBride (71 percent) and blocking specialist Tip Reiman (59 percent). In an offense that focuses heavily on RB James Conner, WR Marvin Harrison and McBride, Higgins' value is capped at what he can accomplish on the few passes he sees from QB Kyler Murray on a weekly basis.
Higgins caught both of his targets for 34 yards during Sunday's 29-9 victory versus the Bears. Higgins continues to be minimally involved as a pass catcher, with Sunday's season high in receiving yards fueled by a 23-yard catch that surpassed any of his single-game tallies from the first eight games of the campaign. However, in a contest in which QB Kyler Murray attempted only 20 passes, Higgins nearly matched No. 1 TE Trey McBride's 3-35-0 line on four targets. Aside from recording no targets Week 6, Higgins has managed one or two receptions in each of his eight other outings, leaving him on the outside looking in to relevance in the Cardinals offense.
Higgins wasn't targeted and logged 18 of 58 offensive snaps during Sunday's 34-13 defeat at Green Bay. Higgins received a season-worst snap share Week 6, which may have been spurred on by an offensive holding penalty in the red zone late in the first half. While he didn't have an official target in a game for the first time this season, a four-yard connection with QB Kyler Murray in the third quarter was negated by a penalty. Per usual, though, the Cardinals' top tight end Trey McBride wasn't lacking in usage, gathering in all eight targets for 96 yards. In essence, a dearth of opportunity has made Higgins, who has two TDs on seven catches on the campaign, a touchdown-dependent option.
Higgins caught his only target for a two-yard touchdown during Sunday's 24-23 win in San Francisco. With the Cardinals' No. 1 TE Trey McBride back in action after sitting out Week 4 due to a concussion, Higgins returned to a normal 41 percent snap share, but he took full advantage of his second red-zone target of the season for touchdown No. 2 in 2024. McBride himself saw an 88 percent share and led the team with nine targets on his way to a 6-53-0 line. Higgins thus is poised for his typical 1-to-2 targets per game moving forward.
Higgins gathered in two of three targets for 12 yards during Sunday's 42-14 loss to the Commanders. With Trey McBride sidelined due to a concussion Week 4, Higgins was slated to take a leap in terms of usage, and he did just that with a 68 percent snap share. Both Higgins and rookie tight end Tip Reiman (42 percent) started, but only the former made a mark in the box score, albeit in a minimal fashion. Coach Jonathan Gannon told Theo Mackie of The Arizona Republic on Monday that McBride still is in the protocol for head injuries and is making progress in his recovery, so how he fares in practice later this week will determine if Higgins is able to retain an expanded workload this coming Sunday at San Francisco.
Higgins is expected to play an expanded role in Sunday's game against the Commanders, as Trey McBride (concussion) has been ruled out, Tyler Drake of ArizonaSports.com reports. Higgins is the logical next man up at tight end for the Cardinals, as his 30 pass routes are second to McBride's 84 at the position in Arizona. On that limited playing time, Higgins has reeled in all four of his targets for 41 yards and one touchdown. Higgins was a sixth-round choice in the 2023 NFL Draft by the Dolphins, but he was amongst Miami's final cuts last year and was claimed off waivers by Arizona. Higgins is an above-average athlete and is worth a look in deeper fantasy leagues this week against Washington.
Higgins reeled in his only target for 11 yards during Sunday's 20-13 loss to the Lions. Through three games this season, Higgins has secured all four of his targets for 41 yards and one touchdown. Because starting TE Trey McBride entered the concussion protocol after Sunday's contest, Higgins is the best bet at the position on the Cardinals' active roster for an increase in production in the short term, especially considering rookie third-rounder Tip Reiman is a blocking specialist. McBride's status will be watched as the week goes on to see if the potential exists for Higgins' profile to be elevated this coming Sunday against the Commanders.