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Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson was observed wearing a yellow non-contact jersey during the portion of Wednesday's practice that was open to reporters, an unexpected development given that he had not been listed on the team's injury report following Week 7. The non-contact jersey is typically used to signal that a player should not be hit or blocked during drills, and it often indicates that a player is in the concussion protocol or managing another injury.
Wilson had appeared healthy after the Cardinals' loss to the Denver Broncos in Week 7, and head coach Mike LaFleur did not bring up any concerns about the receiver during his morning press conference. Reporters will have their next opportunity to ask LaFleur about Wilson's status on Friday, when he holds his next media session. The team is set to release its first injury report of the week later on Wednesday, which should clarify what Wilson is dealing with.
Wilson's production has dipped since the trade of Marvin Harrison Jr., though LaFleur was quick to defend the receiver's overall play when asked about the numbers earlier this week. "I think if you take away the stats from it, he's running good routes and he's separating," LaFleur said. "He has drawn quite a few penalties this year as well. I mean that got us going there on that third drive. With that being said, I know he can still make that play for himself too, but it's just kind of the momentum of making a play as opposed to a penalty."
LaFleur specifically pointed to a play against the Broncos where Wilson ran a double move and was held by cornerback Riley Moss. "We told the official it was going to be a double move. He ran the double move. It was a really good route and the guy held him. That was clearly a penalty, but again, I know we can make that play," LaFleur explained. "Then he drew another one a little bit later, but our pocket collapsed right away. To me, when we're clicking on all cylinders, those are touchdowns. He ran right by the guy off the double move. He's doing a lot of good things. He obviously hasn't had the stats and that's kind of what you're insinuating right there."
LaFleur added that Wilson's focus should remain on controlling what he can: winning his one-on-one matchups, catching the ball when targeted, and maximizing yards after the catch. "Again, all he can do is control what he can control – win his one-on-one matchups when the ball's thrown to him, catch it, and then obviously try to stay grounded and make as much YAC as he can," LaFleur said.
The Cardinals are preparing to face the Dallas Cowboys in Week 8, and Wilson's potential absence would be a significant blow to Arizona's offense. The team will provide further updates on his status when the first injury report is released later today.
Key Analysis
Wilson's sudden appearance in a non-contact jersey raises questions about his availability for Week 8, especially since he had not been previously listed on the injury report. The Cardinals' offense, already adjusting to the loss of Marvin Harrison Jr., could ill afford to lose another key target. LaFleur's comments suggest that Wilson has been performing better than his statistics indicate, drawing penalties and creating separation, but the team will need clarity on his health before finalizing their game plan against the Cowboys.