A former NFL wide receiver believes that former Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. is going through the motions with the Arizona Cardinals because he has such a small role in the team's offense.
Appearing on the "Speakeasy" show, former Cincinnati Bengals and Pro Bowl wide receiver TJ Houshmandzadeh spoke about Harrison Jr.'s lack of production and poor route-running through two games.
"He's not trying, because he feels like, 'I'm not getting the ball anyway,'" said Houshmandzadeh. "... This is where he has to understand this is making him look bad."
Harrison Jr. has recorded one catch for 33 yards in his third NFL season. He's been targeted four times, which is tied for fifth on the team.
After the Cardinals' 24-7 loss to the Seattle
Seahawks, Cardinals head coach Mike LeFleur was asked about getting Harrison Jr. easier completions.
Said LeFleur: "I know it's like, 'Well, just get him some easy completions to get going.' That's fine. You also have Trey McBride, who's one of the best underneath guys in the world, and there's only about 60 to 65 plays a game. ... That doesn't mean that we won't this week if we think that's what's best, in terms of working him underneath, but that's not what we thought was best for the first two weeks."
In the same press conference, LeFleur also shot down the idea that Harrison Jr. lacks effort.
"I don't see it that way. I think his running style is different than some other people's. ... I know his teammates don't feel that way," LeFleur said.
Houshmandzadeh, however, thinks that Harrison Jr.'s lack of carries goes beyond the game plan.
Listen to former NFL WR TJ Houshmandzadeh talk about the Marvin Harrison Jr situation and Mike Lafleur’s comments on it👀
— K1SinceDay1 (@KSzn2021) September 22, 2026
TJ used to train his Cardinals teammate Michael Wilson and says he was actually supposed to workout with him and plans on reaching out to Marv.
Worth a… pic.twitter.com/ZsKcb24dG9
"When you value somebody, those words don't even come out your mouth. So that right there tells me he does not value Marvin Harrison as a football player," Houshmandzadeh said.
Houshmandzadeh also pointed to the contracts given out to Cardinals skill players. Last offseason, the Cardinals signed star tight end Trey McBride to a four-year, $76 million contract. Before the 2026 season began, the Cardinals signed wide receiver Michael Wilson to a three-year $75 million contract extension.
In the latest NFL draft, the Cardinals selected Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love with the No. 4 overall pick, guaranteeing him $53 million.
Harrison Jr. was the fourth overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, which guaranteed him a four-year, $35.3 million contract.
"My advice to Marvin Harrison Jr. would be this: Go all out," Houshmandzadeh said. "Show everybody that this [expletive] really matters to you. That you can create separation, even if you don't get the ball. They [are] going to see that you can create separation. 'They' [as in] the other teams. ... If he stays in Arizona, his career might be over."
Harrison Jr. had 62 receptions for 885 yards in his rookie season, but his production dipped in his second year after he missed games due to appendicitis, a concussion, a heel injury and a foot injury.
In his final season at Ohio State, Harrison Jr. won the 2023 Biletnikoff Award as college football's outstanding receiver, recording 67 catches for 1,211 yards and 14 touchdowns.
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Ex-NFL Pro Bowler says Marvin Harrison Jr. isn't trying, reveals why
