Cardinals receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. leads all rookies in touchdown catches this season with seven, yet many observers feel his inaugural NFL campaign has not met the lofty expectations set for him.
Selected fourth overall from Ohio State, Harrison is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison. He entered the league with high hopes but has struggled to establish a reliable rapport with quarterback Kyler Murray.
Just three weeks ago, the Cardinals stood at 6-4, surprisingly leading the NFC West. However, they have since lost three consecutive games, with turnovers on passes aimed at Harrison contributing to their recent struggles.
Harrison showcased his potential during Week 2, catching touchdown passes of 60 and 23 yards in a commanding 41-10 victory over the Rams, accumulating four receptions for 130 yards. Since then, he has surpassed the 100-yard mark only once, a stark contrast to his eight 100-yard games as a Buckeye last season. In fact, he has not recorded a catch longer than 25 yards over the past 11 games.
Challenges for Lions rookie corner
The Detroit Lions currently share the best record in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, largely due to their defense, which ranks second in points allowed. However, first-round pick Terrion Arnold has faced significant challenges, logging the second-most defensive snaps on the team.
Arnold has struggled with penalties, accumulating 11 flags for an NFL-high 167 yards. If this pace continues, he could become the first player at any position to reach 200 penalty yards since Brandon Browner in 2015. He has yet to register an interception, and Pro Football Focus ranks him 108th out of 118 cornerbacks.
“That’s where Arnold’s at. He’s starting to push through this,” said Lions coach Dan Campbell. “He’s gaining enough valuable reps and experience. He’s not letting the grind of the season wear him down, and he’s getting better.”
In the offseason, Detroit invested in its secondary by drafting Arnold and trading for cornerback Carlton Davis. As a result, the Lions’ defense has improved from 19th to 10th in total defense and from 30th to 10th in yards allowed per pass.
Pearsall’s diminishing role with the 49ers
Ricky Pearsall, the 49ers’ first-round pick, made an impact five weeks ago with a 46-yard touchdown and 73 receiving yards against the Buccaneers. However, in the four games since, his presence in San Francisco’s passing game has dwindled. Despite being on the field for 61% of offensive snaps as the No. 3 receiver behind Deebo Samuel and Jauan Jennings, Pearsall has only seen five targets, resulting in just one catch for five yards.
The 49ers recently broke a three-game losing streak with a decisive win over the Bears. However, they now find themselves on the fringes of the NFC playoff race, needing to finish strong against formidable opponents like the Rams, Dolphins, Lions, and Cardinals to secure a postseason spot.
Rookie quarterbacks nearing 3,000 passing yards
This season has seen a remarkable performance from rookie quarterbacks, with Washington’s Jayden Daniels, Denver’s Bo Nix, and Chicago’s Caleb Williams all on track to surpass 3,000 passing yards. Nix requires 158 yards, Daniels needs 181, and Williams is looking for 254 yards this weekend. Achieving this milestone would mark only the third instance in NFL history where three rookies throw for over 3,000 yards in the same season.
The previous occurrences highlight the unpredictable nature of NFL careers, even for those who start strong. In 2019, Kyler Murray, Daniel Jones, and Gardner Minshew all reached 3,000 yards, while 2012 saw five quarterbacks, including Andrew Luck and Russell Wilson, achieve the same feat, showcasing the varied trajectories of their careers.
Greg Auman is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports. He has spent a decade covering the Buccaneers for the Tampa Bay Times and The Athletic. Follow him on Twitter at @gregauman.
