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As Primary Target, Michael Wilson Understands Mental Lock-In Is Constant

Wide receiver likely to remain WR1 with Harrison battling heel injury

Dec 11, 2025 at 11:01 AM

azcardinals.com

Michael Wilson, like most wide receivers, always would like to get more targets. OK, maybe not Wilson in the three games of late in which he has blown up statistically and gotten a ton of targets. But generally, sure.

But the third-year Stanford product also knows there is another side of this WR1 that must be handled.

"When you go into a game and you know the ball is going to come to you, you have to be 'on it' all the time," Wilson said. "A lot of dudes say I wish I could get 15, 20 targets. Until you get into that situation, and it's like, 'OK, mentally you have to be so locked in all the time.'

"That's why I have so much respect for guys like Christian McCaffery and Puka and guys who touch the ball at a high volume week in and week out. After having done it (three times), I realized I had a lot of appreciation for guys that can do that throughout the course of a 17-game season. Not only is a physically taxing, it's mentally exhausting after the game. 'I didn't have a moment in that game where my focus could slip at all.'"

For instance, Wilson said, he might've been able to beat the cornerback across from him a couple of times with the same move. But since the ball could be coming yet again, he needs to be able to come up with something different to create the separation for target No. 3 against that guy.

Of late, Wilson seems to be able to do that just fine.

Quarterback Jacoby Brissett talked about the trust he and Wilson have in one another. Wilson now, even with few targets early in the season, now as 61 receptions for 712 yards with four games left. It's fair to think the production will continue, so Brissett is going to keep getting asked about Wilson's surge.

"I try to come up with new things when everybody asks me about Mike (and) what I have learned about him or respect about his game or what has shocked me," Brissett said. "I'm running out things just because every week is a testament to who he is as a person and the work that he does.

"He has no fear. I don't think I said that yet, so that's new. He has no fear."