Report: Cardinals WR Andre Baccellia (neck) to IR

Field Level Media|published: 12/16/2025, 3:07pm EST

Dec 14, 2025; Houston, Texas, USA; Medical personnel treat Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Andre Baccellia (82) following an injury on a kickoff return during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Thomas Shea-Imagn Images

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver and kick returner Andre Baccellia will be placed on injured reserve with a neck injury, KPRC2 Houston reported Tuesday.

Baccellia was taken to a Houston-area hospital after he was carted off the field Sunday with the neck injury in a 40-20 loss to the Texans.

The injury occurred just before halftime as Baccellia was tackled on a kick return and remained on the ground for nearly 10 minutes. After he was immobilized, Baccellia raised his right hand to the crowd while on a stretcher and gave a thumbs-up.

The team announced that Baccellia was alert and had full movement to all of his extremities. Arizona head coach Jonathan Gannon said after that game that he expected Baccellia to fly back with the team.

Mainly a practice squad player for the Cardinals, Baccellia, 28, was playing in his 18th career game.

He entered with nine career receptions for 53 yards over three seasons (2022-23, 2025) with Arizona. He had eight career kick returns heading into Sunday's game, and added two for 53 yards.

A Los Angeles-area native, Baccellia went undrafted out of Washington.

--Field Level Media