Marvin Harrison Jr. remains to be the No. 1 receiver for the Arizona Cardinals. Picture credit score: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Pictures Let’s face it. First impressions are essential.
You get a bloody nostril in your first date? Not excellent.
You hit a parked automotive in your driver’s check? Whoops.
You catch one move for 4 yards in your extremely anticipated NFL debut? Large yikes!
OK, possibly the final instance was a little bit harsh. You won’t get that second date, and also you may need to attend to get your driver’s license, however there’s all the time a chance to erase the reminiscence of 1 dud recreation for those who’re an NFL receiver with monumental expertise.
Listed below are three gamers who may bounce again in Week 2:
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
Sure, we all know, one catch for 4 yards. However give it some thought this manner: 4 yards is 12 toes!
Sarcasm apart, it’s far too early to overreact to Harrison’s quiet debut. Quarterback Kyler Murray ended up focusing totally on Trey McBride (9 targets) and Greg Dortch (eight), and James Conner bought 4 targets out of the backfield.
Harrison was fourth with a trio of targets, and he caught solely a kind of passes. However for those who dig a little bit deeper, you see that he was on the sector for 55 performs—90.2% of Arizona’s offense. That was greater than McBride (52 snaps, 85.3 %), Conner (41 snaps, 67.2 %), and Dortch (37 snaps, 60.7 %).
The rookie goes to be OK. We expect.
TE Travis Kelce, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Feb. 12, 2023: Andy Reid and Travis Kelce have a good time the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. credit: Michael Chow / USA TODAY NETWORK Haters gonna hate, and many others., however Kelce is aware of to shake it off on the subject of Week 1.
In some methods, Kelce was fortunate that the Chiefs went up towards the Baltimore Ravens within the season opener. A lot of the tight finish consternation centered on the opposite aspect of the sector, the place Mark Andrews bought scorching canine within the stands whereas Isaiah Possible caught a whopping 9 passes for 111 yards and a landing.
Andrews is “Possible” dealing with large competitors from his teammate all season. However Kelce is in a unique scenario in Kansas Metropolis, the place he’s nonetheless the clear alpha at his place.
Have a look at routes run: Kelce was concerned in 48 performs, which represented 88.9 % of Kansas Metropolis’s offense. No different pass-catcher was on the sector as a lot as he was. He completed with solely three receptions for 34 yards, however keep affected person. Kelce has large video games on the way in which.
WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers extensive receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) leans into the play towards Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive again Dee Delaney (30) through the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports activities Aiyuk spent many of the preseason watching clips of Jerry Maguire — “Showww Me the Cash!!!” — so it wasn’t an enormous shock that he was quiet in Week 1. He caught two passes for 28 yards from Brock Purdy, who will be part of him on the way in which to the financial institution quickly.
Aiyuk advised reporters after the sport that he felt like he was in good condition and that conditioning was not a think about his debut. It is smart, as he had loads of time to work out all offseason, and he merely needed to alter to recreation velocity and speak to after so little apply.
This week could possibly be a chance for Aiyuk to get his toes again underneath him and the soccer again in his grip. The Minnesota Vikings are skinny at cornerback, and whereas they did an awesome job shutting down Daniel Jones and the New York Giants final week, they will have their fingers full with the 49ers’ many weapons. That features Aiyuk, who can be sensible to not attempt to lug his duffel bag of money on his receiver routes this week.
