For the Arizona Cardinals to get over the playoff hump in 2025 after narrowly missing the postseason a year ago, the team is going to need several of their guys to step up.

When I say they need guys to step up, I’m not referring to their current stars.

We know guys like Trey McBride, James Conner, and Budda Baker will hold up their end of the bargain. Free agent additions like Calais Campbell and Josh Sweat should also be exempt. We should have less than zero questions there.

Players being asked to step up also does not include the young players like Marvin Harrison Jr. or Walter Nolen III.

No, the players who should be asked to step up are those who are in positions to start, make significant contributions, and potentially alter games.

The Cardinals have several players who fit that billing.

I could name a slew of players that make sense to hold that label, but one player who stands out to me the most is third-year man Michael Wilson.

Apparently, I’m not the only one, either.

CBS Sports’ Garrett Podell constructed a list of three “under-the-radar” stars for every NFC team this upcoming season and highlighted the Stanford product for Arizona.

Podell started off with this to say:

“Pro Bowl tight end Trey McBride and 2024 fourth overall pick wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. get the spotlight with the Arizona Cardinals, but 2023 third-round pick wide receiver Michael Wilson could be on the verge of a breakout in 2025. He was third on the team in targets (71), catches (47) and receiving yards (548) in 2024…”

Wilson has been an important contributor to the Cardinals passing game in his first two professional seasons. He was a pseudo-WR1 of sorts with an up-and-down season from Marquise Brown in his rookie season in 2023 before flourishing in a no.2 role last here behind Harrison.

We saw most of his stats improve across the board after his rookie season output of 38 receptions on 58 targets for 565 yards and three scores.

By all accounts it was a successful season, placing fourth on the team in both receptions and targets, third yards, and tied for second in touchdowns with McBride.

The hope was Wilson would take a step forward in year two with Harrison opposite him to help draw attention away from him. It did seem that way at times, but a poor passing game entirely didn’t lead to the massive results the team had hoped for.

Still, no one is quitting on Wilson yet and he’s still earned playing time for the offense. A correction in the passing game should give him an uptick in production. Kyler Murray certainly believes that he’s more than capable of eclipsing the all-mighty 1,000 yard barrier.

Podell notes a quote from Murray in his article:

“…quarterback Kyler Murray thinks Wilson has the ability to be a 1,000-yard receiver.

“‘Mike [Wilson] is a 1,000-yard receiver. I truly believe Mike can have 1,000 yards and be very comparable to the guys we see doing it year in and year out,’ Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray said on April 9, via PHNX Cardinals podcast. ‘It’s all about opportunities, staying healthy and the connection we have on the field, but … he’s got it. He can play receiver.””

It’s always a good thing when your quarterback vouches for you, and Podell agrees with the sentiment:

“Given that kind of belief from his quarterback, Wilson could make a huge leap in the coming season.”

It would obviously be a welcome addition to the offense and really open things up for the team to not be so constrained. That was an issue last season that led to the team’s second-half collapse. That wasn’t remotely a Wilson problem, but he can certainly help prevent that from happening twice.

Entering 2025, the Cardinals would like Wilson’s production to improve, but they may need it plain and simple. Last year’s passing attack was OK. McBride went over 1k on the season with big time volume, and MHJ was close to 900 yards as a rookie who wasn’t used properly.

That can hopefully continue to be the case for years to come, of course with the latter becoming a perennial 1,000 yard receiver.

And although it shouldn’t be asked of Wilson to also become a 1,000 yard receiver — honestly, that’s not fair to ask of any third option in any offense given its rarity — the team will need him to step up this season.

The Cardinals offense was stagnant at times last year and a big reason why was its inconsistent passing game. If Harrison wasn’t getting it done out wide then Arizona was forced into underneath passing. That can’t continue to be the case if the Cardinals want to go back to late-January football.

Harrison will be the biggest factor in changing those fortunes, but Wilson could find a way to also become a component to that change.

Plus, it also gives him a chance to break out some big time numbers right before he heads into a contract season; even more incentive to do such than there already was.

I’m not asking for 1,000 yards out of Wilson, but it is time to get past 600 yards for the first time in his career. I would set the bar at a medium height and look to get 700-800 yards and at least five scores from him this season.

As a third option in a team’s passing game that is no easy task, but I wouldn’t just assign this to a player if I didn’t believe they were capable of doing so.

I firmly believe that Wilson is capable of posting some rock-solid numbers in 2025.

A season output of let’s say 65 receptions, 750 yards, five touchdowns may not feel like a “breakout” to many, but it would be exactly that for the Cardinals. A season like that, if paired with good-to-great seasons from McBride and Harrison, could also be the final key to this offense holding its own.

Wilson isn’t the key to fixing the offense, but he can be the key if things fall into place. So, don’t place all the expectations on him to break out, but don’t be surprised if this offense takes off with a breakout season from Wilson.

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) – Federal funding cuts have impacted many medical programs around the country.

And now, key cuts to HIV and AIDS programs over the past month have left some resources in southern Arizona having to adjust their much-needed care.

El Rio Health’s Special Immunology Associates’ Clinic serves nearly 1,700 people, making it the largest HIV care provider in southern Arizona.

The clinic provides essential wrap-around care for many aspects of the lives of those who live with HIV.

“They are able to meet with a nutritionist, a caseworker, who is like a social worker. They’re able to meet their medical assistant, their pharmacist, if they have behavioral health needs, they see a psychiatrist or a therapist, etc.,” said El Rio’s SIA Clinic Medical Director, Dr. Sudha Nagalingam.

However, this past month, a portion of their Ryan White Program funds were cut by 40%, funding which they relied on for many of their services.

It meant their care, which they strive to have all their resources under one roof, will now have to pull on resources elsewhere. It’s a switch that doctors said makes things a little more complicated for patients who rely on this care.

“Many of our patients are the most underserved, struggling with some of the most basic needs, like stable housing, transportation to clinic, food subsidies,” Nagalingam said.

While El Rio’s larger health system has helped the clinic manage these cuts, some other organizations aren’t so lucky.

“I can imagine a smaller organization would feel the brunt of those cuts even heavier if they’re not able to outsource within the same system,” Nagalingam said.

The Southern Arizona Aids Foundation had $1.5 million in Ryan White funding cut this past month. And last week, federal funding cuts to HIV prevention trimmed more than $600,000 in funding from the Arizona Department of Health Services.

Officials with SAAF told 13 News the cuts will force a reduction in testing hours, food assistance, dental benefits, and possibly loss of housing and rental assistance for nearly 100 people.

SAAF provided this statement to 13 News:

“We recognize how deeply unsettling these developments are—not only for our dedicated team but, most importantly, for the communities we serve,” said Beth Morrison, interim chief executive officer of SAAF. “While these funding cuts are a serious setback, our commitment to providing life-affirming care and advocacy for those living with HIV, LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities marginalized by society remains unwavering. We are working closely with our national partners in D.C., as well as trusted partners such as Lambda Legal and the Human Rights Campaign and will continue to fight for the resources our clients and community need and deserve.”

However, these cuts are something doctors say impact all who help the HIV and aids communities.

“If we’re unable to keep patients in care and keep their viral load suppressed, it becomes a public health issue, and it can lead to a transmission of the virus,” Nagalingam said.

Nagalingam said both organizations and others in the space are working together to try to preserve the services.

“I know when one of our hurts, we all sort of hurt together. So, I think more now than ever, with these cuts, is really vital that we work hand in hand to ensure that we make every dollar stretch,” Nagalingam said.

Both El Rio and SAAF said they have had to cut staff, with SAAF eliminating 14 positions within the agency, and those that remain have had to take on increased workloads.

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