Kyler Murray stands firm in his support for Marvin Harrison Jr. following a disappointing debut in the NFL. The rookie wide receiver, who was the fourth overall pick from Ohio State, had high expectations for his first professional game with the Arizona Cardinals, envisioning a performance filled with impressive catches and a team victory.
However, the reality of the NFL often differs from the dreams of its players. Harrison’s debut fell flat, as he recorded only one catch for four yards and was targeted just three times during the game. The Cardinals ultimately suffered a 34-28 defeat to the Buffalo Bills.
“Obviously, it wasn’t great,” Harrison admitted. “It definitely wasn’t what I expected or what I wanted to happen, what the team wanted to happen.”
Despite the lackluster performance, Murray expressed unwavering confidence in his teammate. “Nothing changes,” he stated. “We’ve got the utmost confidence in what we’re capable of doing. If you went back and watched the game, I think they did a good job of making sure he wasn’t going to be single-covered for the majority of the game.” He added, “But I’ll never lose confidence in Marv.”
Harrison’s limited involvement raised questions about head coach Jonathan Gannon’s decision to keep him on the sidelines for most of the preseason. He participated in just one series during the first exhibition game against the New Orleans Saints, while Murray also did not play in any of the preseason contests.
“It’s totally different,” Harrison noted. “You do a lot of things in shirts and shorts, then you go to practice and you’ve got pads on, you’ve got joint practices with the Colts, but there’s nothing like live action.”
Nonetheless, Harrison acknowledged Gannon’s strategy to keep several starters healthy for the regular season. “We all feel really healthy, and that’s the most important thing,” he remarked.
As the Cardinals gear up for their upcoming game against the Los Angeles Rams on September 15, they face a significant challenge. Arizona has struggled against their division rivals, losing 13 of 15 matchups since 2017, including a playoff game.
Harrison remains optimistic about changing that narrative. Drawing from his experiences at Ohio State, he understands that making plays is possible even when the defense focuses on shutting him down. “I’ve got to get open and catch the ball,” he said. “That’s my job as a receiver. That’s my job description.”
