Arizona Cardinals training camp: WR Michael Wilson explains roel on offense

Arizona Cardinals receiver Michael Wilson had a big season in 2025, breaking out with over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career. He did it with Jacoby Brissett at quarterback mostly, and mostly it was when Marvin Harrison Jr. was injured.

He recently spoke about his 2025 season and why he suddenly had an uptick in production when Brissett was the quarterback. He said it was because he was playing the ‘X’ receiver role because of injuries to Harrison and Zay Jones.

Will he be playing the ‘X’ again this year, and will he see the same production?

Wilson spoke about his role entering this season, and he made sure that people understand that the two systems are different.

He is back to playing the ‘Z’ receiver role, but it is different in this offensive scheme.

In previous offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s offensive system, it was different.

“Typically in that system, which is like Cleveland Browns (where Petzing came from before he was the Cardinals’ OC), you think (tight end) David Njoku, (receiver) Amari Cooper,” he said. “What Drew came from, like, 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.”

That tracks with how the Cardinals’ passing offense went. Tight end Trey McBride had numbers. The ‘X’ receiver, whether it was Harrison, Jones or Wilson, would be the next-leading receiver. The ‘Z’ didn’t get many looks.

But the ‘Z’ is “completely different” in new head coach Mike LaFleur’s system, Wilson said.

“You look at the history of the Rams with Puka (Nacua) and Cooper Kupp playing the ‘Z’ role, the ball’s going to find you a lot, but you have to be committed to the run game. And I think that’s a strength of mine, and so I think Mike’s doing a good job of putting me in a position to succeed in my strengths and putting Marvin in positions to succeed with his strengths.”

LaFleur explained the receiver roles a little bit during the offseason program. Harrison will have a similar role as Davante Adams has had with the Rams. There will be isolation on the outside and red zone targets. Adams led the NFL in touchdown catches last season. Wilson will be asked to do what Nacua does for the Rams, where he works in the run game and is moved around in routes to find openings.

Nacua led the NFL in receptions in 2025.

Will the Cardinals’ offense be good enough to produce in the passing game like the Rams, or will it look like a cheap imitation? Can Wilson, Harrison and tight end Trey McBride, coming off a record-setting season of 126 catches, all put up numbers?

That is what we will see as the regular season approaches.

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This article originally appeared on Cards Wire: Arizona Cardinals training camp: WR Michael Wilson explains roel on offense