Cardinals player Harrison Jr. frustrated after NFL debut with only one catch

TEMPE, Ariz. – Arizona Cardinals rookie wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., who is usually even-tempered, said Wednesday that he became frustrated during Sunday's loss to the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.

The No. 4 pick had just one catch for four yards on three attempts in his NFL debut, but Harrison said his frustration was largely due to the way the game went – his NFL debut did not go as he had hoped.

“I mean, it obviously wasn't great,” Harrison said. “It definitely wasn't what I expected, what I wanted, what the team wanted. Obviously you want to come away with a win, and we didn't do that.”

Harrison added that he felt he could have done a better job of helping Arizona win.

“That's why I came here, to help the team drive the offense,” he said. “I have to do better in the future.”

“I have to run free and catch the ball. That's my job as a receiver. That's your job description. I have to do better.”

The Bills tried to take Harrison out of the game by using cloud coverage, in which a cornerback rolls up to block and redirect Harrison. It was his first time facing NFL defenses for more than three snaps in the first preseason game against the New Orleans Saints.

Harrison did not play the rest of the game against the Saints or the last two preseason games and said that was why he could not have had Sunday off.

“Thinking a lot,” Harrison said. “I definitely did a lot of thinking out there and I think that will change with reps as I think less and just go out there and play. That will change with reps and I'll get better at it, but I'll definitely say I did a lot of thinking out there.”

Quarterback Kyler Murray said “nothing changed” in his communication with Harrison after Sunday's performance.

“We have complete confidence in what we can do,” Murray said. “If you look back at the game, I think they did a good job of making sure he wasn't tackled alone or wasn't tackled for most of the game.”

“I will never lose faith in Marv. It was his first game. We have to keep getting better and we will.”

Harrison and Murray have been watching film over the last few days and talking about certain situations. Murray asked Harrison what he saw on certain plays and they discussed what happened next.

Harrison hopes his connection with Murray develops “sooner rather than later,” but doesn't believe they're in “a bad spot.” Live repeaters, Harrison said, would help their relationship on the field.

“Of course we want him to play more,” Murray said. “That's no secret, but I definitely don't want to force anything.”