Marquise Brown is the Arizona Cardinals top wide receiver on the outside, but Kyler Murray and Co. might be without him when the Cardinals and Steelers return from a second weather delay. What do we know about the WR’s injury?
Marquise Brown Injury Update
Brown missed practice all week with a heel injury and was questionable to play on Sunday. After battling during the first half with little success, he left the game in the third quarter with the same heel injury. The team listed him as questionable to return.
The receiver entered Sunday with a team-high 51 receptions on 98 targets. Brown’s game is predicated on his fast feet and explosiveness, so playing with a lower-body injury is even more detrimental for Brown.
Fantasy Impact of Marquise Brown’s Injury
The Cardinals’ passing game was very concentrated last week (vs. LAR), with 47.7% of Kyler Murray’s targets going to either Trey McBride or Brown. You could read that as a massive role opening with Brown sidelined, or as a lack of confidence Murray has in the other pass catchers on this roster.
McBride was to be considered a weekly starter prior to this injury, and his strong target share only gains stability with Brown getting banged up. As for a secondary option in Arizona, there isn’t another player who has proven capable of earning targets at a consistent enough rate to matter in most leagues.
MORE: Arizona Cardinals Depth Chart
Michael Wilson has been battling injuries recently, but should he return to action, that is the player I’d throw on the backend of rosters. The rookie is capable of providing big plays and considering that Brown’s aDOT was 51.4% higher with Murray under center prior to him returning, there is a downfield role to chase.