Marvin Harrison Jr.’s debut with the Arizona Cardinals fell short of expectations, as the 2024 first-round pick managed just one reception for four yards in the team’s 34-28 season-opening loss to the Buffalo Bills.
During his sophomore and junior seasons at Ohio State, Harrison never recorded a game with fewer than 10 receiving yards, making Sunday’s performance an unfamiliar experience for the star wide receiver.
Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon, however, expects this to be a one-off. Addressing rumors that Harrison’s confidence might have been shaken after dropping the first pass of his NFL career, Gannon was quick to reassure, stating that Harrison is “fine” and will “get back at it and go to work. Nobody’s going to put more expectations or pressure on him than himself.”
While Gannon acknowledged the Bills’ strong defensive effort in neutralizing Harrison, he emphasized the need to involve the rookie more in Week 2. “We’ve got to get him more involved, but they did some things that took him away and put a lot of resources on him,” Gannon explained during an interview with Arizona Sports’ Burns & Gambo on Monday.
As for adjustments moving forward, Gannon added, “One thing we can do is get him on the move a little bit.”
In Week 2, the Cardinals will face a familiar divisional foe in the Los Angeles Rams. Historically, the Cardinals have struggled in this matchup, holding a 4-12 record against the Rams since 2017.
