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This offseason, wide receiver Michael Wilson of the Arizona Cardinals had a major objective: tighten things up with quarterback Kyler Murray.
How should that be done best? Spend more time and energy on this rather than the required minicamp and scheduled team activities.
Completely completed, even though it required “a little bit of bite back” from an unlisted individual.
“Maintaining my relationship with Kyler is what I’m most proud of and excited about,” Wilson stated on Tuesday. “I think it’s fantastic that you did that. We have been throwing at several high schools on a weekly basis. I stayed here almost every weekend during the OTAs, especially to have training time with K1.
“I informed my girlfriend that I would not be visiting Portland every weekend. In order to improve my relationship with Kyler, I plan to remain here. It’s been very incredible. I have no words to describe how amazing it has been.
Spending more time on task can have a significant impact on the ongoing development of trust and chemistry between the quarterback and pass catcher in an offense where timing and rhythm are more important than feel.
Because of Wilson’s ruptured ACL and subsequent rehabilitation, he and the other wide receivers on the team were not afforded such luxury in the previous season.
In 2024, however, things will be different since Wilson and the others will work with Murray for four to five days at the training facility in addition to practicing on the weekends throughout the offseason.
Additionally, the early results seem encouraging.
“I feel like it’s been as seamless and as flawless of OTAs as I could have hoped for,” Wilson said. “I think there’s been less than three balls on the ground between me and him this whole time.”
Getting in that extra work is nothing new for Wilson, who much like rookie Marvin Harrison Jr. and Murray needs to be reeled in at times in an effort to not overdo it.
It’s that dedication to his craft paired with his growing chemistry with Murray that has Gannon and others expecting big things from Wilson after flashing as a rookie.
“Where you’re ultimately evaluated is production on the grass, but how he gets to that production on the grass on a daily basis, I think he’ll take a jump with what he’s doing from all the standpoints of what that means — schematic, technique, physical, his health, what’s in between his ears,” Gannon said Tuesday. “He will take a jump in all those buckets as I call them.
“That will in turn give him a chance to increase his production and help us win. I really like where Mike is at. He’s as smart as they come, as competitive as they come, works on his craft, works on his game. … He’s going to have a good year.”
Wilson also has plans in place to make up with his girlfriend, Sophia Smith, a forward for the Portland Thorns FC and member of the USWNT.
“I think I’ve been able to attend the most games so far this year. I believe I’ve attended two or three home games in Portland, in addition to watching all six of the Gold Cup games.
“I’m going to go hang out with her after these OTAs, too. I earned some slack.”
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