Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson will miss the rest of the 2026 season after suffering a fractured vertebra. Neck injuries require careful management, but the outlook for his future is encouraging.
Head coach Mike LaFleur said Wilson’s prognosis is positive and that the injury is not expected to affect him moving forward. The Cardinals believe he could return in 2027, though the timing remains uncertain. The team is expected to take a cautious approach as Wilson recovers.
Wilson described the injury as an unexpected setback, while expressing gratitude for the support he has received. “Not the ending I had envisioned, but forever grateful for the journey,” he wrote. “Regardless of what happens, my love for this game will never change! Thank you for all the love and support. The story is still being written.”
Wilson signed a three-year, $75 million contract extension with Arizona over the summer. In nine games during the 2026 season, he recorded 51 receptions for 546 yards and two touchdowns.
## Cardinals Face Questions at Wide Receiver
Arizona began the season with high hopes for its receiving group. Wilson was expected to build on his 2025 campaign, when he surpassed 1,000 receiving yards, and appeared to be on track before his injury. Former fourth overall pick Marvin Harrison Jr. was also expected to contribute, but he was traded to the Houston Texans after a difficult stretch.
Wilson’s injury leaves the Cardinals short on experience at receiver. Kendrick Bourne is also on injured reserve, and Jalen Brooks is out for the season. Reggie Virgil and Simi Fehoko are listed as starters; together, they have four catches for 71 yards this season. Harrison Wallace III and Devin Duvernay have combined for four receptions for 22 yards.
The situation comes as Carson Beck takes over as the Cardinals’ starting quarterback. Tight end Trey McBride remains the team’s leading passing-game option, but Arizona’s other receiving injuries could make it easier for opposing defenses to focus on him.
