The Arizona Cardinals will be without five key players for their Week 14 matchup, most notably rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who’s been ruled out with a heel injury. He joins cornerback Max Melton (heel), wide receiver Greg Dortch (chest), safety Dadrion Taylor-Demerson (ankle), and defensive lineman Walter Nolen III (knee) on the inactive list.
For Harrison, it’s another frustrating setback in what’s been a stop-and-start rookie campaign. After missing time earlier this season due to an appendectomy, the former Ohio State standout is now sidelined again-this time with a heel issue that cropped up in Week 13. While the Cardinals haven’t indicated the long-term severity, any missed time for a player of Harrison’s caliber is a blow to both his development and the team’s offensive rhythm.
Harrison came into the league with sky-high expectations-and for good reason. The 23-year-old is the son of Hall of Famer Marvin Harrison, and he carved out his own legacy in Columbus before turning pro. A three-year starter at Ohio State, Harrison Jr. was a force in the Big Ten, earning 2023 Offensive Player of the Year honors, a consensus All-American nod, and the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top receiver.
Arizona made him the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, locking him in with a four-year, fully guaranteed $35.37 million deal that included a hefty $22.5 million signing bonus. Through 10 games this season, he’s shown flashes of the elite talent that made him such a coveted prospect-hauling in 40 catches on 69 targets for 594 yards and four touchdowns. That’s a healthy 14.9 yards per catch, a number that speaks to both his route-running precision and big-play ability.
But now, the Cardinals will have to find ways to move the ball without their top weapon on the outside. With Dortch also out, Arizona’s receiver depth will be tested. Expect more targets for the remaining wideouts and potentially a heavier reliance on the run game or tight ends in the short passing attack.
On the defensive side, the absence of Melton, Taylor-Demerson, and Nolen further complicates things for a unit that’s already had its hands full this season. Melton had been carving out a role in the secondary, Taylor-Demerson brought speed and range at safety, and Nolen, a rookie with a high ceiling, was starting to earn more snaps up front.
Injuries are part of the game, but for a young Cardinals team trying to build momentum down the stretch, losing this many contributors in one week is a tough pill to swallow. How they respond-both schematically and emotionally-will say a lot about where they are in their rebuild.