PHX Reporter

No, Kyler Murray isn't playing preseason games, but -- at least in the opener against the Saints Saturday at State Farm Stadium -- rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will play, coach Jonathan Gannon said on Thursday.

Gannon reiterated every player every preseason game will be evaluated "on a case-by-case" basis, but Harrison will get the chance to be on the field for the first time. Gannon has not announced which of the reserve quarterbacks, Desmond Ridder or Clayton Tune, will get the start.

"Hopefully I get to play," Harrison said last week. "I definitely want to play."

CB Max Melton returned to practice on Thursday. CB Garrett Williams and DL Justin Jones remained sidelined, as was RB Emari Demercado.

The battle between Ridder and Tune, to hear Gannon tell it, is close. Preseason games will matter. "If you graded the day each day they'd both probably tell you it's pretty even," Gannon said.

Gannon says often that the evaluations of players are done through a combination of practices and preseason games. But what about those players who tend to do better in games than in practice?

"You're going to play how you practice," Gannon said. "Now, you do see some guys when the lights come on, they find another level. That happens. Everyone is a little bit different. Some guys are gamers. But we need those guys to do that in practice too."