Marvin Harrison Jr. stays the Arizona Cardinals’ No. 1 receiver. Photograph credit score: Gregory Fisher-Imagn Photos Let’s face it. First impressions are vital.
Acquired a nosebleed on the primary date? Not preferrred.
Did you hit a parked automotive throughout your driving take a look at? oops.
Will you catch a cross for 4 yards in your extremely anticipated NFL debut? oops!
Okay, possibly that final instance is just a little merciless. You won’t get a second date, and also you might need to attend to get your driver’s license, however if you happen to’re a proficient NFL receiver, there’s all the time an opportunity to erase the reminiscence of a nasty sport.
Listed below are three gamers who may bounce again in Week 2:
Huge receiver Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
Sure, we all know, one catch for 4 yards. However consider it this fashion: 4 yards is 12 toes!
Sarcasm apart, it will be untimely to overreact to Harrison’s low-key debut. Quarterback Kyler Murray ended up specializing in Trey McBride (9 targets) and Greg Dortch (eight), with James Conner choosing up 4 targets within the backfield.
Harrison was fourth with three targets, however he solely caught a type of passes. However if you happen to dig just a little deeper, you will discover that he was on the sphere for 55 video games — 90.2 p.c of Arizona’s offense. That’s greater than McBride (52 snaps, 85.3%), Conner (41 snaps, 67.2%) and Dortch (37 snaps, 60.7%).
The rookie will probably be nice. We expect.
TE Travis Kelce, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
February 12, 2023: Andy Reid and Travis Kelce have fun the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ victory over the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl 7 at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. Photograph credit score: Michael Chow/USA TODAY NETWORK Haters are going to hate and so forth, however Kelce is aware of to do away with it in Week 1.
In some methods, Kelce was fortunate that the Chiefs confronted the Baltimore Ravens within the season opener. A lot of the tight finish consternation was on the opposite facet of the sphere, the place Mark Andrews was promoting sizzling canine within the stands and Isaiah Probably caught 9 passes for 111 yards And scored a landing.
Andrews will “doubtless” face stiff competitors from his teammates all season lengthy. However Kelce’s state of affairs is completely different in Kansas Metropolis. He’s nonetheless absolutely the chief at his place.
From the angle of operating routes: Kelce participated in 48 offensive snaps, accounting for 88.9% of Kansas Metropolis’s offense. No different receiver on the sphere was used as typically as he was. He ended up with simply three catches for 34 yards, however keep affected person. Kells has a giant sport developing.
WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers large receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) performs in opposition to Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive again Dee Delaney (30) throughout the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Photograph Credit score: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports activities Aiyuk spent a lot of the preseason watching clips of Jerry Maguire — “Showwww Me the Cash!!!” — so it wasn’t a shock that he was quiet in Week 1. Head to the financial institution with him.
Aiyuk advised reporters after the sport that he felt he was in good situation and that bodily health was not a think about his debut. This is sensible since he had loads of time to coach all through the offseason and he solely needed to get used to the velocity and get in touch with of the sport after little or no apply.
This week might be an opportunity for Aiyuk to regain his footing and regain management of the soccer. The Minnesota Vikings are skinny at cornerback, and whereas they did an amazing job stopping Daniel Jones and the New York Giants final week, they’re going to have their palms full coping with the 49ers’ many weapons. That features Aiyuk, who can be clever to not attempt to lug a duffle bag full of money on the receiving route this week.
