By Field Level Media
Nov 10 (Field Level Media) – Arizona Cardinals star wide receiver Michael Wilson is out for the remainder of the season after suffering a neck fracture Sunday, coach Mike LaFleur said Monday.
Wilson was hurt on the fourth play of the game against the Seattle Seahawks, LaFleur said, and played through the injury. Wilson was on the field for 44 offensive snaps.
Wilson, 26, was already playing through two broken ribs.
The Cardinals’ No. 1 wide receiver had 51 receptions for 546 yards and two touchdowns through nine games this season. He finished Sunday’s 17-3 loss to Seattle with six catches for 60 yards.
The Cardinals’ most productive wide receiver on the active roster is now Reggie Virgil, who has three receptions for 54 yards. Tight end Trey McBride leads the team with 73 receptions for 598 yards. Kendrick Bourne (26 receptions, 263 yards, no touchdowns) is on injured reserve with what is reported to be a fractured tibia.
Arizona’s concerns in the passing game don’t end there, as LaFleur said quarterback Gardner Minshew II is undergoing tests on his throwing elbow and arm.
Minshew took a big hit near the end of the first half but stayed in the game and finished 21-for-30 for 166 yards.
Multiple reports on Monday said that Minshew might have torn his UCL, which would end his season.
“We will know more on Wednesday, but yeah, there is a possibility for sure (he can’t play Sunday against the Los Angeles Rams),” LaFleur said.
The Cardinals had recently elevated Minshew to starting quarterback and rookie Carson Beck to QB2, demoting Jacoby Brissett and later trading him to the Baltimore Ravens.
“It’s not like it’s a difference between the Wing-T and a spread offense,” LaFleur said of Beck replacing Minshew. “Foundationally, we do similar stuff. A lot of the stuff Carson likes and is good at is the stuff Gardner likes. They like this system.”
Arizona is signing journeyman QB Josh Johnson off the Cincinnati Bengals’ practice squad, ESPN reported on Monday night. Johnson, 40, has played in regular-season games with seven different NFL teams and has been with 14 organizations in all since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers selected him in the fifth round of the 2008 NFL Draft.
LaFleur also said that starting center Hjalte Froholt is in concussion protocol.
The Cardinals (3-6) will face the Rams (5-4) at home Sunday, four weeks after Arizona earned an 18-16 road victory over its NFC West rival.
(–Field Level Media)
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