Michael Wilson’s Late-Season Surge Has Him Chasing Cardinals History
GLENDALE - At 3-11, the Arizona Cardinals haven’t had much to celebrate this season. But amid a tough year, second-year wideout Michael Wilson has emerged as one of the brightest spots on the roster - and he’s now closing in on a milestone that hasn’t been touched in Arizona since 2020.
Coming into Week 11, Wilson had just 231 receiving yards on the year. Fast forward five weeks, and he’s more than tripled that total, putting himself in striking distance of a 1,000-yard season - something no Cardinals receiver has done in five years.
Wilson’s Breakout Stretch
Let’s be clear: Wilson’s recent run hasn’t just been good - it’s been historic by franchise standards. Over the last month, the 25-year-old has carved up defenses with a mix of precise route-running, physicality after the catch, and growing chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray. Now, with three games left, he sits just 234 yards shy of the 1,000-yard mark.
That means he’ll need to average 78 yards per game the rest of the way. Doable?
Absolutely. But not without challenges.
The Road Ahead: Matchups and Momentum
Wilson’s first test comes in Week 16 against the Atlanta Falcons - a top-10 pass defense that doesn’t give up much through the air. We saw a similar scenario just last week when Wilson faced the Houston Texans, another elite secondary. He was held to just 54 yards - a solid outing by most standards, but a dip compared to the numbers he’s been putting up.
But the schedule softens after that. The Cardinals close the season with road games against the Cincinnati Bengals and Los Angeles Rams - two defenses that have struggled to stop the pass. In fact, Wilson torched the Rams for 142 yards just two weeks ago.
Still, there’s a wrinkle. Wilson has never topped 78 receiving yards in a road game. So while the matchups are favorable, he’ll need to break new ground to get over the hump.
The Harrison Factor
There’s also the looming presence of Marvin Harrison Jr. to consider. The rookie wideout is Arizona’s WR1 when healthy, and his return to the lineup could cut into Wilson’s target share. We already saw that play out in Week 13, when Harrison briefly returned and Wilson’s production dipped to just 36 yards - sandwiched between monster outings of 185, 118, and 142 yards.
Harrison is currently questionable for Week 16 with a heel injury. If the Cardinals decide to play it safe with their top draft pick - especially with no playoff hopes on the line - Wilson could continue to operate as the focal point of the passing game. That would give him a real shot at making history.
A Silver Lining in a Lost Season
For a team playing out the string in a rebuilding year, Wilson’s emergence is more than just a feel-good story. It’s a glimpse into the future.
He’s proving he can be a reliable weapon, whether or not Harrison is on the field. And if he can finish strong, he’ll join an exclusive club of Cardinals receivers to reach 1,000 yards - a list that includes names like Larry Fitzgerald and DeAndre Hopkins.
There’s still work to be done. But if Wilson keeps playing like he has over the past month, he won’t just finish the season on a high note - he’ll cement himself as a key piece of Arizona’s offensive core moving forward.