Andre

Baccellia

He’ll miss the remainder of the regular season. Baccellia suffered a scary neck injury and was stretchered off against the Texans in Week 15. The soon-to-be 29-year-old will be an exclusive rights free agent this offseason. He has had nine catches for 53 yards in three seasons on the active roster since coming into the NFL as a UDFA in 2020.

Baccellia took a kickoff and appeared to get lost in the pile after getting a helmet-to-helmet hit. We’re unsure exactly what the diagnosis is, but it looked serious and several players were praying as he was loaded up on the cart. He did show a little movement and gave a thumbs up while leaving. It would not be surprising if this injury sent Baccellia to season-ending injured reserve. He was taken to the hospital for further observation.

Baccellia, with Greg Dortch (chest) on injured reserve and Xavier Weaver dealing with an ankle injury, operated as the Cardinals’ WR2 in Week 14. He logged a pass route on 39 of Jacoby Brissett’s 50 drop backs. Weaver would likely take on the WR2 role if he’s able to suit up and Marvin Harrison Jr. remains sidelined in Week 15 against the Texans.

Harrison will miss another game, making Michael Wilson a top-15 fantasy option in all formats in what should be negative game script for the Cardinals offense. Bam Knight is likely to serve as Arizona’s lead back with Demercado out; Knight could see a bump in routes and possibly targets against LA. Weaver’s absence could make Andre Baccellia the team’s WR2 since Greg Dortch was sent to IR with a chest injury.

Carter surprisingly lost out to Zonovan Knight for the final roster spot at running back, but decided to remain with the Cardinals practice squad. Joining him so far are: WR Andre Baccellia, LB Elliott Brown, OL Jeremiah Byers, OL Jake Curhan, TE Josiah Deguara, WR Simi Fehoko, DL Anthony Goodlow, CB Darren Hall, OL Sincere Haynesworth, OL Nick Leverett, WR Tejhaun Palmer and DL Elijah Simmons.

Tune drew minimal interest from dynasty managers back in 2023, when Kyler Murray was rehabbing from a torn ACL. He will now seek clipboard duties elsewhere. The Cardinals also waived CB Ekow Boye-Doe, TE Oscar Cardenas, OL McClendon Curtis, CB Steven Gilmore, DL Patrick Jenkins, LB Vi Jones, OL Roy Mbaeteka, WR Nate McCollum, OLB Benton Whitley and released WR Andre Baccellia.

This news is particularly notable considering the state of the Cardinals’ pass-catching corps, with Rondale Moore on injured reserve, Marquise Brown returning for his first game in six weeks, Zach Ertz on injured reserve, and Greg Dortch listed questionable with a thumb injury. Baccellia would likely assume a prominent role out of the slot for the Cardinals should Dortch be held out.

Baccellia (5'10/173) was bettered by RB Salvon Ahmed, who turned in a 4.32-second sprint in the 40, but regardless, fast is fast is fast. The redshirt senior wideout caught 55 passes for 584 yards last season (no touchdowns). He is a likely starter for the coming campaign. With rocket launcher-armed QB Jacob Eason set to take over for Jake Browning, Baccellia’s speed could play up a bit more downfield this fall.

Baccellia (5'10/173), who caught 55 passes for 584 yards in 2018, is looking to take a step forward with regards to both his production and leadership in 2019. And according to Washington WR coach Junior Adams, the redshirt senior wideout has performed well during spring practice. “I will say this: When he comes to practice, he’s been pretty consistent,” Adams said according to Lauren Kirschman of The News Tribune. “He comes to work every day. I want to say pretty much every day he’s made a play, some sort of explosive play and he’s been blocking his butt off.” Washington, which won ten games and the Pac-12 title last season, will have a new quarterback as Jake Browning has graduated. If Baccellia can continue to establish a connection with Jacob Eason, the better that would be for the Husky offense in 2019.

An awesome end to the year for Baccellia, who also snagged eight passes in the Pac-12 championship game. Most of it was of the short variety, but short passes are what the Huskies do under Jake Browning. Next year, the (much much much) stronger arm of Jacob Eason takes over, and while he may not have Browning’s command of the offense or accuracy, his weapons-grade arm should help Baccellia, Aaron Fuller and Hunter Bryant make deeper receptions in 2019.