Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver Michael Wilson is out for the season after suffering a neck fracture. The injury occurred on the fourth play of the team’s 17‑3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday.
Wilson caught a 17‑yard pass and landed on his head after being tackled by cornerback Devon Witherspoon, yet he stayed in the game. He later told teammates he felt a kink in his neck, but his warrior mentality kept him on the field.
Cardinals Wide Receiver Out for Season
Coach Mike LaFleur said the neck issue was dismissed during the game, only becoming clear when Wilson’s test results arrived. He described Wilson as a warrior who initially downplayed the problem.
The Cardinals officially placed Wilson on injured reserve on Tuesday, ending his season. The move clears a roster spot for one of the team’s remaining receivers.
Wilson, 26, signed a three‑year, $75 million extension before Week 1 and has emerged as the Cardinals’ No. 1 receiver. Through nine games he has recorded 51 catches for 546 yards and two touchdowns.
Last season Wilson posted 78 catches for 1,006 yards and seven touchdowns. With Wilson sidelined and Marvin Harrison Jr. traded in October, the Cardinals are dangerously thin at wide receiver.
Simi Fehoko, Devin Duvernay, Reggie Virgil and Harrison Wallace constitute the only healthy wideouts left on the active roster. Coach LaFleur said Wilson’s injury creates opportunities for these players to step up.
The lack of receiver options will likely increase targets for star tight end Trey McBride. McBride leads the NFL with 73 receptions, 598 yards and five touchdowns.
The injury news did not stop with Wilson; starting quarterback Gardner Minshew may require season‑ending surgery to repair a torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, according to ESPN. If Minshew is unavailable, rookie Carson Beck would assume the starting role.
Running back Jeremiyah Love is already on injured reserve, leaving the Cardinals with largely unproven skill position players. The situation compounds the team’s offensive challenges heading into the final stretch of the season.
The Cardinals (3‑6) host the Los Angeles Rams (5‑4) on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET. The matchup will test the depth of the Cardinals’ remaining roster.
Ryan Canfield is a digital production assistant for Fox News Digital. He covers Cardinals news for the network.
