The Cardinals’ decision to move on from Marvin Harrison Jr. changes the Rams’ outlook in more than one way, and the timing matters for Los Angeles.
Arizona, sitting at 1-4, has already sent a pretty clear message about where its season is headed. The trade sends Harrison to the Houston Texans, leaving the Cardinals to lean on Jacoby Brissett and an offense that has not exactly been a machine through the air.
Brissett has thrown for 1,110 yards, and his top targets now look like tight end Trey McBride along with receivers Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne. Harrison’s production never really forced the issue anyway; he had only five catches on 13 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown.
For the Rams, the most obvious gain is simple: they do not have to deal with Harrison in Week 6. That alone counts, because he has been a problem for Los Angeles before.
His best career games have come against the Rams, including a 4-of-8 outing for 130 yards and two touchdowns in 2024 Week 2, and a 6-of-10 line for 96 yards with no touchdowns in 2024 Week 16. He was inactive in both 2025 meetings.
Even with his quiet start this season, a receiver who has averaged 113 yards and a touchdown against the Rams is not someone L.A. will miss.
There is also the bigger picture in Arizona. With Brissett under center, the Cardinals may be positioning themselves toward the 2027 draft and a possible franchise quarterback.
The article frames it plainly: the Cardinals are incentivized to lose in 2026, even if nobody can say for sure how the draft will shake out by then. They already have an elite rookie running back and McBride at tight end.
The missing piece is the quarterback, and that makes future success less appealing, even in games against the Rams.
Then there is the effect on McBride. Harrison may not have been lighting it up, but he still had to be accounted for.
Without him on the field, defenses can dedicate more attention to McBride, who has already caught 42 of 56 targets for 308 yards and three touchdowns. The Rams have a strong pass defense, so McBride may have a tougher time now that Los Angeles no longer has to worry about Harrison stretching the coverage.
Bourne gave the Rams trouble last year, but the expectation here is that they should be able to handle him too.
Harrison was the one player who could have shifted the balance. With him gone, the Rams’ path against Arizona gets a little cleaner.
In Other News...
Ex-Rams Kicker Harrison Mevis Draws Fresh Heat After Release
Harrison Mevis short run with the Rams ended the same way kicking jobs often do in this league, with one bad performance carrying outsized consequences. After missing key field goals against the Bills, the former Los Angeles kicker was let go, closing out a stretch in which he had made five of nine field goal attempts while converting all 14 extra-point tries.
Mevis release has since been followed by another wave of attention online, with social media posts alleging he liked Instagram accounts belonging to high school girls. The claims are being spread through screenshots and have not been independently confirmed, but they have added an awkward off-field layer to a departure that was already defined by pressure, inconsistency, and a team looking for more stability at the position. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Just Caught A Break In This NFC West Matchup
A division game always gets a little more interesting when one side has to shuffle its plans, and the Rams just got a bit of relief on that front. Arizona ruled out rookie running back Jeremiyah Love for Week 6 because of an ankle injury, another setback in a season that has already been interrupted by health issues. He did not practice this week, which left little doubt he would not be available for Sunday.
From Los Angeles perspective, the absence changes the look of the Cardinals offense and puts more on Tyler Allgeier to carry the backfield load. There is no specific timetable for Loves return, so the Rams will line up against a familiar NFC West opponent without having to account for one of Arizonas more intriguing young pieces. [Read more 🡒]
Rams Suddenly Have A Tackle Depth Question Worth Watching
Keagen Trosts return to practice gives the Rams a little more breathing room at tackle, a spot that has quickly become worth monitoring. The rookie had opened the season on injured reserve with a hamstring injury, and his return comes at a useful time for a line that has had to keep adjusting around availability and timing up front.
Alaric Jacksons suspension was reduced from two games to one, which means veteran David Quessenberry is set to start in Week 6 before Jackson is expected back in Week 7. Trosts presence doesnt solve everything, but it does give Los Angeles another option as it tries to stabilize the edge of the offensive line and avoid getting too thin there. [Read more 🡒]