Marvin Harrison Jr. returned to the field for the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday after missing two games due to a heel injury. Head coach Jonathan Gannon said Monday that Harrison was “OK” following his limited participation against the Atlanta Falcons.
The team managed Harrison’s playing time as part of a planned approach, with Gannon stating, “He’ll be ready for more. I know he wants to play more.” Harrison had previously mentioned that he would need to play through the injury until the offseason.
During Sunday’s game, Harrison caught one pass for 14 yards on three targets and played 29 out of 57 offensive snaps. His only catch came in the fourth quarter. He also had an opportunity for a touchdown reception but was unable to secure a 26-yard pass in the end zone. Addressing this missed chance, Gannon commented, “he can go up and make that play.”
The Cardinals are working towards building chemistry among their key receivers—Harrison, Michael Wilson, and tight end Trey McBride—as they look ahead to the final two games of the season. Having Harrison available is seen as important for developing cohesion within the offense.
Gannon emphasized player safety in his remarks: “He wants to play and he wants to go out and help us win,” Gannon said. “He wants to go play football. Again, we always do what is best for the player. If we thought we were were endangering him, we wouldn’t put him out there.”
