Marvin Harrison Jr. is barely a week into life with the Texans, but the early signs have been promising for both him and C.J. Stroud.
Since Houston traded for the receiver on October 11th, the fit has looked smooth. Stroud and Harrison Jr., college teammates at Ohio State, connected quickly in the passing game, with Stroud hitting him on three catches for 34 yards. It was the kind of early chemistry that can make a new addition feel like he’s been there longer than seven days.
Harrison Jr. said he expects his role to keep growing, but he’s not trying to force anything just yet.
“Taking it one week at a time,” said Harrison Jr. “Continue to execute the game plans that we have; for me, myself, I think I’m going to be a little bit more aggressive moving forward. Being a little conservative out there this past week, just new team, new environment, just wanna make sure to do the right thing but be a little more aggressive this week.”
He’s also set to experience something new in Houston: his first home crowd with the Texans.
“The crowd,” said Harrison Jr. “I heard they bring a lot of energy, so I’m excited to feel it.”
Stroud, for his part, doesn’t sound like he’s spending much time tutoring the newcomer through every detail. He said Harrison Jr. has picked things up quickly.
“Not really. He’s [WR Marvin Harrison Jr.] really smart.
He’s not really somebody I think you have to like baby or walk through with a bunch. He knows that I’m here whenever he needs me.
He calls me and texts me about questions, and I’m always there for him, at least I try to be. But no, he’s a very smart guy, and he knows a lot about football.
If you see him, he made a lot of plays. Even the times he didn’t get the ball in the game, creating separation, using sauce on his routes.
It looks like he’s having fun, so I just love to see that from him. He’s doing a really good job here thus far.”
Texans coach DeMeco Ryans echoed that message and said Harrison Jr.’s workload should keep climbing.
“However many he can handle,” said Coach Ryans. ”Yes, I expect [WR] Marvin [Harrison Jr.] ‘s workload to continue to increase.
I think he got a little bit under 15 reps in the game on Sunday, and he handled all those really well; he did a really great job. He’ll continue to get more.
One thing I see, Marvin is a very smart guy. He’s picked up things very seamlessly, and he’s moving around a lot of different places on our offense.
Our coaches can put him in a lot of different spots, and he’s handled himself really well. He’ll get more workload.”
Houston enters Sunday looking for a third straight win when it hosts the New York Giants at Reliant Stadium. The Texans are coming off a big victory in London over the Jacksonville Jaguars and sit at 2-4.
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