Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. was ruled out of Sunday's 34-13 loss to the Green Bay Packers with a concussion. The fourth overall pick went down with 6:28 left in the second quarter when his head collided with the thigh of Packers linebacker Isaiah McDuffie after a pass to Harrison fell incomplete.
Harrison was helped off the field by Cardinals trainers and, after getting evaluated in the blue injury tent on the sideline, left the field and was escorted to the locker room by a team of Arizona trainers and doctors. He was ruled out shortly after the second half began.
Harrison did not have a catch on two targets Sunday.
Harrison's injury was one of several to hit the NFL during Week 6. The injury bug has not been kind this season, and several other players were on the mend after Sunday's games. Anthony Richardson will not be starting for the Colts Sunday as Joe Flacco will get the nod. Richardson is out with an oblique injury. For the Green Bay Packers, Christian Watson and Jaire Alexander are active -- but their nicks are something to monitor. In the early games, Travis Etienne left with a hamstring injury.
The Impact on the Cardinals
Losing Harrison is a tough blow for a Cardinals offense that already struggled to move the ball through the air. The Cardinals entered Sunday's game with the league's eighth-worst passing attack. The Cardinals will now have to rely on other players to step up and fill Harrison's role.
Harrison's Rookie Season
Harrison’s NFL career didn't get off to a strong start, as he recorded just one catch for four yards in the Cardinals' season-opener. He quickly bounced back, hauling in 16 receptions for 275 yards over his next four appearances. Harrison has also recorded four touchdowns in five career games, the most among all rookie receivers this season.
Harrison's Injury History
Harrison has only appeared on Arizona's injury report ahead of the team's Week 4 loss to the Washington Commanders due to an oblique issue, but he didn't carry a game status heading into the matchup and was able to suit up.
The Road to Recovery
Harrison's first opportunity to clear concussion protocol and return will be in Week 7, as the Cardinals host the Los Angeles Chargers on Monday Night Football. The Cardinals are 2-3 on the season and will need Harrison back on the field soon if they want to make a push for the playoffs.
Other Notable Injuries
Harrison was not the only player to suffer an injury on Sunday. New Orleans Saints starting receiver Chris Olave was ruled out to be evaluated for a concussion following a helmet-to-helmet hit as he lost a fumble that was returned for a Tampa Bay Buccaneers touchdown. Olave was in the process of being stripped from behind by Bucs defensive back Tykee Smith moments after catching a pass from Saints rookie quarterback Spencer Rattler when the receiver absorbed a heavy hit to the head from cornerback Zyon McCollum. Olave sat on the field, apparently dazed, while Bucs safety Antoine Winfield Jr. scooped up the loose ball and ran it back 58 yards for a score that gave Tampa Bay a 14-0 first-quarter lead. No flag was thrown on the play, which was reviewed by rule because it involved a turnover. Referee Clete Blakeman looked at video that clearly showed the helmet-to-helmet hit, but his review was confined to whether Olave had completed the catch before he was stripped. Blakemen then delivered his decision that the fumble — and resulting Bucs score — would stand to a Superdome crowd that also had seen replays and booed in apparent anger over the missed personal foul call that put the Saints' No. 1 receiver into the concussion protocol and out of the game. Olave, a 2022 first-round draft choice also out of Ohio State, entered the game with 22 catches for 275 yards and a touchdown through the season's first five weeks. Olave had been in the NFL's concussion protocol twice before in the past three NFL seasons.
The Future of Harrison
Harrison’s injury is a setback for the Cardinals, but he is still a young player with a lot of potential. The Cardinals are hoping that he will be able to make a full recovery and return to the field soon.
The Cardinals Need to Stay Focused
The Cardinals will need to stay focused on their goals despite the injuries. With Harrison out, they will need to find a way to win games without him. They will need to look for other players to step up and make plays. With a tough schedule ahead, the Cardinals are going to need to find a way to overcome the injuries and find a way to win.
What's Next for the Cardinals
The Cardinals will face a tough test in Week 7 against the Los Angeles Chargers. The Chargers are a strong team, and the Cardinals will need to be at their best to win this game. If the Cardinals can get a win against the Chargers, it will give them a lot of momentum heading into the rest of the season. The Cardinals will need to find a way to overcome the injuries and find a way to win. They will need to be at their best to compete with the Chargers.
It's Time for the Cardinals to Rise to the Challenge
The Cardinals need to show that they can handle adversity. They are going to need to find a way to win without Harrison on the field. The Cardinals will need to come together and find a way to win this game. It will be a tough test, but the Cardinals have the talent to overcome the challenge and make a run for the playoffs.
