Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver Michael Wilson is out for the season after suffering a fracture in his neck.
Wilson, 26, suffered the injury on the fourth play of the Cardinals’ 17-3 loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, but continued to play. He caught a 17-yard pass and landed on his head after being tackled by cornerback Devon Witherspoon.
“He said (during the game) he kind of had a kink in his neck, but he’s such a warrior you didn’t think much of it,” head coach Mike LaFleur told reporters on Monday. “Then obviously when the adrenaline wore down and he got his test today, that’s when we knew.”
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The Cardinals officially placed Wilson on IR on Tuesday.
Wilson signed a three-year, $75 million extension before Week 1 after emerging as Cardinals’ No. 1 wide receiver. In nine games this season, Wilson had 51 catches for 546 yards and two touchdowns.
Last season, Wilson had 78 catches for 1,006 yards with seven touchdowns. With Wilson injured and Marvin Harrison Jr. traded in October, the Cardinals are dangerously thin at wide receiver.
Simi Fehoko, Devin Duvernay, Reggie Virgil and Harrison Wallace are the four remaining wide receivers on the active roster. LaFleur said Wilson’s injury creates opportunities for other players to step up and show what they can do.
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The lack of wide receiver options will likely mean even more targets for superstar tight end Trey McBride.
McBride has 73 receptions, the most in the NFL, along with 598 yards and five touchdowns.
Unfortunately for the Cardinals, the injury news didn’t stop with Wilson.
Starting quarterback Gardner Minshew may need season-ending surgery to repair the ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, according to ESPN. The Cardinals recently traded Jacoby Brissett to the Baltimore Ravens, so rookie quarterback Carson Beck would start if Minshew is unable to play.
Beck would face difficult circumstances, as star rookie running back Jeremiyah Love is on injured reserve , and the team’s wide receiver group consists largely of unproven players.
The Cardinals’ (3-6) next game is against the Los Angeles Rams (5-4) at home on Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.