Marvin Harrison Jr.'s Injury Complicates Cardinals' Final Weeks
At 3-12, the Arizona Cardinals aren’t playing for a playoff spot. What’s left now is pride, evaluation-and in some ways, preservation. But when it comes to Marvin Harrison Jr., things get a little more complicated.
The rookie wideout is clearly not at full strength. He’s dealing with a heel injury that’s been lingering, and while he’s back on the field, he’s not quite back to himself.
Still, Harrison wants to play. That’s where things get tricky.
Arizona heads into Week 17 against the Bengals, a matchup that, in terms of the standings, only affects draft positioning. But for Harrison, every snap is a chance to build chemistry, gain experience, and show flashes of the elite talent that made him a top draft pick. The question is: how much is too much?
Last week, Harrison returned to action and was limited-just one catch on three targets for 14 yards. He was on the field for 29 offensive snaps, just over half of the Cardinals’ total plays. Not exactly a heavy workload, but enough to show he’s pushing through discomfort.
Head coach Jonathan Gannon acknowledged the balancing act. “If we thought that we were endangering him, we wouldn’t put him out there,” Gannon told reporters this week. That’s a clear signal that the staff is monitoring the situation closely, but also that Harrison might see more action against Cincinnati.
And that opens the door to a potential breakout-at least in theory. The Bengals’ defense has struggled this season, especially against the pass, and if Harrison’s usage ticks up, he could find some openings.
But there’s an obvious risk here. If that heel flares up again, it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Cardinals shut him down quickly.
Harrison himself has admitted he’ll likely be playing through the injury for the rest of the season. That’s not uncommon late in the year-especially for rookies still adjusting to the grind of the NFL calendar-but it’s also not ideal when you’re already banged up and the games don’t carry postseason implications.
So we’re left with a delicate situation: a young star trying to stay on the field and contribute, while a team with little to gain must weigh the long-term value of protecting its future cornerstone. Harrison’s competitive fire is evident. But with two games left and a heel that isn’t fully healed, the Cardinals will have to decide how much to let him burn.