Marvin Harrison Jr. Returns in Limited Role as Cardinals Fall to Falcons
GLENDALE - Marvin Harrison Jr. was back on the field in Week 16, suiting up for the Arizona Cardinals after missing four of the last five games. His return came at a crucial moment - the team’s final home game of the season, with a six-game losing streak at State Farm Stadium hanging over them like a cloud.
The hope? That Harrison’s presence could provide a spark.
The reality? It was a quiet comeback for the second-year wideout.
Harrison played just 29 snaps - just over half of Arizona’s offensive plays - and finished with one catch on three targets for 14 yards. That stat line doesn’t jump off the page, and understandably so.
This was a measured return, not a full-speed reentry. Head coach Jonathan Gannon made it clear they had a plan for Harrison’s workload, given where he was physically.
“I think he’ll be ready for more,” Gannon said Monday. “We’ll see how it kind of goes here.
Obviously, we had a plan for his reps, where he was at health-wise. I know he wants to play more.
We’ll see where he’s at.”
And Harrison certainly looked like someone itching to do more. His three targets weren’t throwaways - they came in high-leverage moments.
Late in the third quarter, with the Cardinals trailing 19-16, quarterback Jacoby Brissett saw Harrison in single coverage and took a shot downfield. It was a go route - the kind of vertical opportunity Harrison thrives on.
The ball hit his hands in the end zone, but he couldn’t haul it in. Instead of a touchdown, Arizona settled for a field goal attempt.
Chad Ryland missed it, and Atlanta answered with a touchdown drive of their own. That sequence swung momentum hard in the Falcons’ favor.
Then came Harrison’s final target - and the game’s final offensive play. With the Cardinals driving for a potential game-winning score, Brissett looked his way again, this time on a comeback route.
The throw sailed wide and into the arms of Falcons cornerback CJ Henderson. It was a tough way to end it - not necessarily Harrison’s fault, but a misfire that sealed the loss.
For a player of Harrison’s caliber, one catch on three targets isn’t what anyone envisioned. But context matters.
He was working his way back from injury, and the Cardinals were easing him in. The good news?
He came out of the game healthy, and the next matchup could be exactly what he needs.
Arizona heads to Cincinnati in Week 17 to face a Bengals defense that ranks near the bottom of the league against the pass. If ever there was a chance for Harrison to reassert himself, this is it.
A healthy Harrison against a struggling secondary? That’s the kind of matchup that could help him finish his sophomore season on a high note.
Injury Update: Cardinals Place Garrett Williams, Walter Nolen on IR
In other roster news, the Cardinals placed cornerback Garrett Williams and rookie defensive lineman Walter Nolen on injured reserve, officially ending their 2025 seasons. Both had shown flashes throughout the year, and their absence will be felt - especially as Arizona looks to evaluate its young core heading into the offseason.
With two games left, the Cardinals are still searching for answers - and wins. But if Harrison can get back to full speed, he might just give them a few reasons to feel optimistic about what’s ahead.