The Arizona Cardinals are set for a Week 13 clash against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET (11 a.m. local time in Arizona) at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. And while both teams have been juggling injuries down the stretch, all eyes in Arizona are on one name: Marvin Harrison Jr.
The rookie wideout, who’s already shown flashes of why he was one of the most hyped prospects in recent memory, is expected to suit up after missing the last two games. His absence wasn’t due to a typical football injury - Harrison underwent an appendectomy two weeks ago following a bout with appendicitis. That’s not your everyday setback, and it’s the kind of thing that can throw off even the most finely tuned athlete.
But here’s the good news for Cardinals fans: Harrison practiced in a limited capacity throughout the week, and head coach Jonathan Gannon said the young receiver looked good. That’s a promising sign, especially considering how cautious teams tend to be with their top playmakers. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport also reported that Harrison is on track to play, which adds another layer of confirmation.
Now, here’s what makes this even more interesting - Harrison isn’t expected to be on a snap count. That’s significant.
After two weeks off and a surgery that could’ve easily sidelined him longer, the Cardinals are apparently confident enough in his recovery to give him a full workload. That says a lot about his conditioning, his toughness, and the trust the coaching staff has in him.
In Harrison’s absence, Michael Wilson stepped up in a big way. He hauled in 25 catches over the last two games, emerging as a reliable target and showing off some chemistry with quarterback Kyler Murray. That kind of production isn’t easy to replicate, and it gives Arizona another weapon to lean on even with Harrison back in the fold.
With Harrison returning and Wilson riding a hot streak, the Cardinals suddenly have a receiving corps that looks a lot more dangerous than it did a few weeks ago. And against a Bucs defense that’s had its share of ups and downs, that could be the edge Arizona needs to keep things competitive on the road.
So yes, Marvin Harrison Jr. is expected to play - and not just as a decoy. The Cardinals are getting one of their most dynamic offensive weapons back just in time for a critical late-season matchup. If he looks anything like the player we saw before the surgery, Tampa Bay’s secondary is going to have its hands full.