GLENDALE – As Arizona Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said postgame, the team is just happy to escape New Orleans with the win. Sunday’s game was ugly, messy and filled with mistakes, but again, not to be understated, the team won. Quarterback Kyler Murray sickness and the New Orleans Saints defense lead to an offensive production from Arizona that left much to be desired.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The Saints had an inexperienced secondary that the Cardinals should’ve taken advantage of in their air attack. However, outside of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. and tight Trey McBride, the receiving threats/targets for the team were non-existent.
Arizona Cardinals receiver Michael Wilson takes the field before their game against the Las Vegas Raiders at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, on Aug. 23, 2025. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Production for Cardinals WR Outside of Harrison and McBride:
- TE Tip Reiman – one catch for 10 yards
- RB Trey Benson – one catch for six yards
- RB James Conner – four catches for five yards
- WR Michael Wilson – one catch for five yards
- WR Zay Jones – one catch for four yards
- TE Elijah Higgins – one catch for three yards
- WR Greg Dortch – one catch for -2 yards
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray (1) practices with teammates Michael Wilson (14) and Greg Dortch (4) during the team’s training camp session at State Farm Stadium in Glendale on July 24, 2024. © Joe Rondone/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK
No wide receiver caught multiple balls, with Michael Wilson being the only one with multiple targets (4). A reason for the lack of production could be a reliance on the run game, as the team averaged 5.4 yards per rush.
The team ran plenty of 13 personnel, which would limit the amount of wide receivers on the field and their targets. In 2024, Murray was top 10 in tight end targets, while near 20th in wide receiver targets. Last year stats matched with Week 1, as the 28-year-old QB targeted TEs 11 times and WRs 13 times.
Sep 10, 2023; Landover, Maryland, USA; Arizona Cardinals offensive coordinator Drew Petzing walks on the sideline before the game against the Washington Commanders at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Brent Skeen-USA TODAY Sports
The target breakdown could be just how offensive coordinator Drew Petzing’s offense is designed. Regardless, the combined seven yards from wide receivers not named Harrison is a problem. The answer to this problem should be third-year wide receiver Wilson.
Wilson is a former 2023 third-round pick and has recorded back-to-back 500+ yard season. However, the 6’2 receiver hasn’t shown signs of stepping up into that WR2 role, still not recording a single game with 100+ receiving yards. Wilson has had the tendency to disappear on the field, which he did again in Week 1 by only recording one catch.
Dec 15, 2024; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Michael Wilson (14) against the New England Patriots at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images
If the Cardinals want to make a serious push towards the playoffs, they need another serious wide receiver threat. If not, teams will being to just double coverage Harrison and leave other receivers on one-on-one coverage because opponents know that they aren’t playmakers.
Did Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. answer doubters in Week 1 vs. Saints?
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, and exclusive content. SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Tanner Tortorella covers general assignment for Burn City Sports. You can follow him on his X account, @TannerTSports
