TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — If this is Marvin Harrison Jr.'s breakout season for the Arizona Cardinals, it will have to begin after a quiet first two games in his third year in the league.
The No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 draft has just one catch for 33 yards through two weeks and has been nearly invisible in first-year coach Mike LaFleur's offense while All-Pro tight end Trey McBride, rookie running back Jeremiyah Love and receivers Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne get most of the touches.
Harrison said it's “obviously a slow start” and isn't surprised that people have been critical of his performance.
“I understand who I am and what I was expected to do when I got drafted here and all the expectations that were put on me,” Harrison said. “People want certain production, so when that’s not happening, everybody's going to ask questions or try to figure out why or a reason.”
LaFleur says Harrison isn't an afterthought
LaFleur said the 24-year-old had some juicy chances during the team's 31-7 loss to Seattle on Sunday — including a potential touchdown on the second play of the game — but they never had time to develop because quarterback Jacoby Brissett was under heavy pressure from the Seahawks' elite defense.
Harrison finished the afternoon with just one target and no catches.
“It’s a long season — we’re two games in," LaFleur said. "There were some opportunities (Sunday) that I thought either the defense dictated that it couldn’t go there or just self-inflicted wounds. It was kind of 50-50.”
The 6-foot-3, 220-pound Harrison, who is the son of Pro Football Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, was viewed by almost everyone in the NFL as a can't-miss prospect thanks to his elite bloodline and productive college career at Ohio State.
But he hasn't been the game-changing presence that many expected — especially through the first two games of this season.
“Combination of a lot of things,” Harrison said. “For my route tree, getting down the field, you need to have a lot of things go right. You need the right coverage, you need the protection to hold up, you need to run a great route, you need Jacoby to make right pass or the right read. It’s never one person’s fault for anybody’s success or lack thereof.”
Brissett hasn't lost confidence in Marv
Brissett knows Harrison is frustrated with his slow start, but that the receiver is still putting in the hard work needed to be successful. The veteran quarterback also put some of the blame on himself, saying it's his job to make sure Harrison is involved.
“Nobody's lost confidence in Marv,” Brissett said. "The hard part as a young player is the noise from the outside, telling you what they expect from you and things of that nature.
“Does Marv want the ball? Yes. Do we understand that he wants the ball? Yes. But is it only Week 2? Yes.”
Harrison had some good moments as a rookie and finished with 885 yards receiving and eight touchdowns. His second year was stunted by injuries and illness, including an appendectomy, and he had 608 yards receiving and four touchdowns over 12 games.
Now in his third year, expectations are high. LaFleur's offensive acumen is highly respected and the Cardinals hope he can figure out how to unlock Harrison's potential.
There is still plenty of time for that to happen, but the pairing hasn't clicked right away.
Questions about effort
Harrison's effort has also been questioned after social media posts of Cardinals' plays show what critics believe is lackadaisical route running and run blocking. LaFleur shut down inquires into those concerns earlier this week and has repeatedly said Harrison is a model teammate who just wants to win.
“I'm not going to sit here and not act like I don't know the narrative that's going on," LaFleur said. "This is the league. Naturally, stuff comes across my desk. But in between those walls, Marv is Marv, he's attacking it every single day like he always does, just like his teammates do.
"I appreciate the way he goes about his business.”
Harrison might not be thrilled with the slow start, but he feels like the team has his back. He added that it only takes one good performance to alter the narrative.
“Things in the NFL can change very fast,” he said.
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