Yes, it appears the Senate could simply decline to hold a trial at this time.
Mitch has some arrows in his quiver too.
https://www.lawfareblog.com/can-senate-decline-try-impeachment-case
That’s a good article you posted. One excerpt below
“The current rules governing Senate practice and procedure do not pose an insurmountable problem for this maneuver. Senate leadership can seek to have the rules “reinterpreted” at any time by the device of seeking a ruling of the chair on the question, and avoiding a formal revision of the rule that would require supermajority approval.
The question presented in some form would be whether, under the relevant rules, the Senate is required to hold an impeachment “trial” fully consistent with current rules—or even any trial at all. A chair’s ruling in the affirmative would be subject to being overturned by a majority, not two-thirds, vote.”
The key is whether a reinterpretation of the rules would result in a ruling that the Senate does not have to hold an impeachment trial. Since we are so close to an election I think the Senate would rule that such a House impeachment is purely political and without merit and thus no trial is required.
The irony is huge. It is close to the election so the House believes a SC justice should not be confirmed yet they want to conduct an impeachment and a trial.