By juggling the ball right into the Seahawks defense's hands Thursday, Harrison's uncharacteristic struggles to begin 2025 continued.
Marvin Harrison Jr. drop: Cardinals WR's rough start to 2025 season continues with drop-turned-INT vs. Seahawks originally appeared on The Sporting News
Marvin Harrison Jr. has been good for the Arizona Cardinals in his young career thus far — but he was drafted with the No. 4 overall pick in 2024 to be great.
The 2024 first-round pick, who was selected ideally as a new No. 1 wide receiver for Kyler Murray, put up a so-so rookie season with 885 receiving yards and eight touchdowns. At times, Harrison looked like the former Ohio State star he is, but at others, there were clear mental mistakes and a clear disconnect with Murray.
Harrison's 2025 season hasn't treated him much kinder so far despite some offseason optimism. On Thursday against the Seahawks, he had a blunder that directly led to a turnover for the Cardinals; after getting a pass from Murray, Harrison bobbled the ball right to Seattle defender Ernest Jones IV for an interception.
📲 Follow The Sporting News on WhatsApp
Here's a look at Harrison's drop-turned-interception on "Thursday Night Football" and why the former Buckeyes star has struggled in 2025.
MORE:Who were the wide receivers drafted after Marvin Harrison Jr. in 2024?
Marvin Harrison Jr. drop turns into INT vs. Seahawks
With the Cardinals trailing 7-3 in the second quarter of Thursday's matchup to open Week 4, Murray hit Harrison in-stride with the potential to pick up a first down on 3rd & 11 if the wide receiver could muscle through a few defenders.
Not only did Harrison not even secure the pass, but after it hit his hands, he completely let go of the ball by tipping it in front of him.
It fell directly into Ernest Jones IV's hands, and the Seahawks took over on Murray's second interception.
PICKED! Ernest Jones IV with the @Seahawks 2nd INT of the game
— NFL (@NFL) September 26, 2025
SEAvsAZ on Prime Video
Also streaming on @NFLPluspic.twitter.com/ARaBx7Yu4S
MORE:Ranking the best Ohio State wide receivers in the NFL
Marvin Harrison Jr. 2025 drops
Thursday's mistake was not the first for Harrison this season, even through just three games. The Cardinals receiver had two drops entering Week 4 after dropping five passes across 16 starts in 2024.
In Week 3, Harrison was as wide-open as an NFL receiver can get against the San Francisco 49ers, but he let the ball fall right through his arms for a bad drop.
#Cardinals WR Marvin Harrison Jr. was WIDE OPEN and just ... dropped it. pic.twitter.com/xQYDDSaP3F
— Arye Pulli (@AryePulliNFL) September 21, 2025
Entering Week 4, Harrison had totaled 142 yards over 10 receptions with one touchdown. He hasn't been posting terrible numbers, but between his status as the son of NFL legend Marvin Harrison and his former dominance at Ohio State, he was expected to become an elite weapon in the pros.
The wide receiver hasn't yet proven he can take the star leap the Cardinals hope he's capable of taking.
What's wrong with Marvin Harrison Jr.?
It'd be unfair to expect Harrison's drops issue to continue, at least at the rate that they have through four weeks of the 2025 season. But there have been issues for Harrison beyond the drops. Plenty of times between 2024 and 2025, he and Murray have not been on the same page on passing plays, including on "Thursday Night Football" this week.
Harrison came into Week 4 averaging just 7.7 yards per target in his NFL career so far. He's struggled to become the big-play weapon he was with the Buckeyes, when he was regularly dominating college defenses.
At the same time, Harrison owning 1,027 receiving yards and nine touchdown catches over 20 career games are by no means bad numbers. It's the high expectations for Harrison that he's struggling to meet — of course, he's also just 23 years old. He should have plenty of time to work through any issues and find another level of production.
After Week 3, Harrison spoke about his wide-open drop and acknowledged his need to improve, visibly disappointed in himself.
"A lot of emotion. Just disappointed really. I know what I put into the game, so doesn't feel the best," Harrison Jr. told reporters. "Everybody got a job to do. I'm not doing my job at a high enough level at the moment. ... I think I know what I'm capable of, to go out there and play nowhere near the best of my abilities, it's frustrating, it hurts the team. I've got to get better."
An emotional Marvin Harrison Jr. in the locker room postgame talking with @LWashingtonTV.
— Cameron Cox (@CamCox12) September 22, 2025
MHJ took accountability for the drops. @12SportsAZpic.twitter.com/yzzHeSIa1E
Category: Football
