Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson doesn’t usually carry himself like a player looking for headlines. He tends to stay out of the noise and keep things moving, which is why his apparent issue with Green Bay Packers cornerback Keisean Nixon stood out during joint practice.
The tension surfaced after Wilson moved the chains and the two went at each other, setting off a bench-clearing brawl. It was one of several flare-ups during the day, with the competitive energy spilling over more than once.
Wilson addressed the scuffle afterward and made it clear the bad blood didn’t start on this field. “Me and him got a little bit of beef going back to my second year in the league.
Every time I see him - I'm not going to say it's smoke - but not too fond of him and I don't think he's too fond of me. I'll just leave it at that,” he said per Arizona Sports' Tyler Drake.
He was pointing back to the Cardinals’ 34-13 Week 6 loss to Green Bay in 2024, when Wilson finished with two catches for 21 yards and a touchdown. Nixon, meanwhile, recorded three tackles and one pass defensed in that game.
Wilson is entering his fourth season and is coming off his first 1,000-yard receiving year. He’s also looking to take on a bigger role under new head coach Mike LaFleur.
Nixon’s path adds another layer to the matchup. He’s from Los Angeles, spent two seasons at Arizona Western in Yuma, and then transferred to South Carolina to finish his college career.
The Cardinals and Packers won’t meet in the regular season this year, so if this rivalry gets another chapter, it won’t come until 2027 or later.
Wilson had one more line after practice that fit the moment perfectly: “You guys have that green and gold, but to me, Cardinal red is the best color in football," Wilson added after practice.
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