Michael Wilson blew up for over 1,000 yards last season with the Cardinals, a first in his career. The wild part? He just spilled the beans on why that production spiked, saying it was all because he was playing the ‘X’ receiver role, mostly when Marvin Harrison Jr. was sidelined and Jacoby Brissett was throwing him the rock. It was a massive breakout, but the question hanging over training camp has been: can he keep that going in 2026?
The Old ‘X’ Ain’t What It Used To Be
Forget what you thought you knew about receiver roles in Arizona, because things are shifting big time. Wilson laid out how that ‘X’ spot under previous offensive coordinator Drew Petzing, who came from the Cleveland Browns system, was the absolute prime spot. He said, “Typically in that system… the offense runs through the Y (tight end) and the X (receiver) traditionally, meaning you’re probably going to be at the point of attack or like the first read in 70 to 80% of the pass plays, which is why the ball finds you more.” Seventy to eighty percent of the plays! That’s insane volume. It totally tracks with how the Cardinals’ passing offense went last year: tight end Trey McBride put up big numbers, and whoever was at ‘X’ was next in line, whether it was Harrison, Zay Jones, or Wilson himself. The ‘Z’ receiver in that old system? Yeah, they barely got a look.
LaFleur’s New ‘Z’ Role Is Straight Fire
But here is where it gets absolutely electric. Wilson is back to the ‘Z’ position this season, but he insists it’s “completely different” in new head coach Mike LaFleur’s system. This isn’t your grandma’s ‘Z’ receiver! Wilson dropped some serious knowledge, pointing to the Rams’ history with guys like Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp absolutely crushing it from the ‘Z’ spot. He stressed that in this system, “the ball’s going to find you a lot, but you have to be committed to the run game.” And Wilson, who seems to know his own game, believes that commitment to the run is a real strength of his. It sounds like LaFleur is a genius at putting players in the best spots, as Wilson said he’s doing a good job putting both him and Harrison in positions to succeed with their unique strengths. Get this: Harrison’s role is going to mirror what Davante Adams did for the Rams, focusing on isolation on the outside and critical red zone targets. Adams led the NFL in touchdown catches last season, so that’s a huge comparison. And Wilson? He’s slated to do exactly what Nacua does for the Rams: working in the run game and moving around in routes to find those critical openings. Remember, Nacua led the NFL in receptions in 2025!
So, the biggest question now is whether the Cardinals’ offense can truly replicate that Rams-level passing game. Can Wilson, Harrison, and Trey McBride, who’s fresh off a record-setting 126-catch season, all put up massive numbers? We’ll be watching every snap as the regular season gets closer, because if this plan works, it’s going to be a show.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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