Cardinals' Peterson thinks Wilks will be back next season

Speculation in NFL circles is that the Arizona Cardinals will part ways with first-year coach Steve Wilks at the conclusion of this season. Cardinals star corner Patrick Peterson disagrees.

"I honestly think coach will be here next year," Peterson said, according to Bob McManaman of the Arizona Republic.

"It's been a tough season for us, but we all love coach. He's a heck of a motivator, just the way he's able to get guys going for games and the messages that he sends across. ... Just everything about coach, he's a man's man."

Fellow Cards star Larry Fitzgerald also threw his support behind his embattled head coach

"We all would want him back," Fitzgerald told NFL Network's Ian Rapoport through text.

Arizona is 3-12 on the year. If the season were to end today, they'd own the first pick in the 2019 NFL Draft.

Despite the rough campaign, Peterson says he and his teammates are proceeding with the belief that Wilks will join them for the 2019 campaign.

"I definitely hope those speculations are false, but at the end of the day, that's something that's out my control. But as players, we're planning to have coach back next year," he said.