Marvin Harrison Jr roasted after nightmare start on TNF
A mid-route quit and a bobbled pick had Marvin Harrison Jr roasted online as the Arizona Cardinals struggled against the Seattle Seahawks during primetime Thursday night NFL football
Marvin Harrison Jr felt the full weight of NFL Twitter, fantasy football owners and his own sideline after a nightmare first half on Thursday Night Football. Fans openly questioned whether the former fourth overall pick will develop into a viable first option for an NFL team. He even criticized his own performance earlier this year when he dropped a pass right in his chest against the 49ers.
At halftime against the Seattle Seahawks, Harrison's stat line read four targets, one catch, and eight yards. The numbers told only part of the story behind his effort and skill, which were called into question after he stopped mid-route on a costly play that led to a turnover.
Harrison Jr. quit on one route that turned into an interception, then bobbled another pass into the hands of a waiting defender, putting Arizona quarterback Kyler Murray in the crosshairs for mistakes that were just as much on his top receiver. The first disaster struck midway through the opening quarter when Murray fired a deep ball over the middle, expecting Harrison to carry his route through coverage.
Instead, the wideout slowed, leaving Seahawks corner Cobee Bryant free to swoop in for a pick.
Adding to the frustration, Harrison showed little urgency to prevent a return, sticking in the play but avoiding contact even as the ball came loose at the end of Bryant’s run. Officials reviewed it for a potential fumble but upheld the ruling on the field.
The second miscue came at the worst possible time, capping off a 10-play drive that had Arizona in scoring range.
Murray looked Harrison's way on a crossing route, the ball hit his hands, and then ricocheted into traffic.
Harrison was drilled by two defenders and coughed the ball straight into the arms of Ernest Jones IV, killing the possession and inflaming fans who had trusted him as a fantasy WR2.
The online roasting was intense and widespread across many frustrated fans. One fan dropped a meme captioned "Marvin Harrison Jr ever since I drafted him," pasting his face over Twitch star Kai Cenat.
Another wrote, "The Kyler Murray Marvin Harrison Jr connection," alongside an image of two soup cans tied together by a string.
Harrison was expected to make a significant leap in Year 2 after a rookie season that didn't fully meet the expectations for the first wide receiver chosen in the 2024 NFL Draft. Last year, he showed occasional sparks of potential, with eight touchdowns, and ranked third in end-zone targets (17) and ninth in air yards (1,518).
He ended 37th in catches, 30th in yards, and 30th in total fantasy points, with a 54 percent catch rate that reflected both his role as a deep threat and an off-target rate north of 22 percent.
For the Cardinals, it stings even more when looking around the league.
Harrison was drafted over Malik Nabers, Rome Odunze, and Brian Thomas Jr., all of whom have already become impact players. Nabers and Thomas earned Pro Bowl nods in Year 1.
To his credit, Harrison did have some luck later in the game, reeling in a 16-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter for his second score of the season.