Beyond wondering how badly the Arizona Cardinals might get beaten by the Detroit Lions on Sunday, Oct. 11, the only other real suspense was waiting for news on the trade of wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.
We got some closure moments before kickoff at State Farm Stadium when Houston Texans coach DeMeco Ryans told reporters following his team’s 26-3 victory over the Tennessee Titans that, yes, the Texans were acquiring Harrison from the Cardinals.
The Cardinals are getting a second-round pick in 2027 along with a sixth-round pick in 2028. The Texans are getting the former No. 4 overall pick from 2024, plus a seventh-round selection in 2027.
“You guys wanted to know, huh?” Ryans said toward the end of his postgame news conference. “Yes, all right, we traded for Marvin Harrison. See ya.”
Ryans then immediately left the interview room, and in short order, the Harrison-less Cardinals were pummeled in Glendale by the Lions, 45-21. It was the fourth straight loss by the Cardinals, who fell to a 1-4, and their ninth consecutive loss at home since beating the Carolina Panthers in Week 2 of the 2025 season.
This didn’t feel anything close to a home game for Arizona. When has it felt that way? The majority of fans were decked out in Detroit’s colors, Honolulu Blue and silver, and most of them stayed until the end to help rub it in.
It was over soon enough for the Cardinals, who thought there might be a chance given the Lions’ defense has been so notoriously bad this season. Detroit entered the game ranked last in total defense (423.8 yards allowed), last in pass defense (304 yards allowed) and second-to-last in average points allowed (31.8).
But after scoring a touchdown during a competent and efficient 14-play opening drive, the Cardinals were forced to punt on their next five possessions. They found themselves trailing 24-7 at halftime, thanks to a second-quarter offensive outburst by the Lions that included three separate conversions on fourth down — two of which directly resulted in touchdowns.
Detroit’s Jared Goff passed for three touchdowns and ran for another score. Running back Jahmyr Gibbs rushed for 151 yards and two touchdowns in addition to catching five passes for 56 yards. It’s the fourth straight week the Cardinals have allowed 30 or more points.
“Yeah, obviously not good enough,” coach Mike LaFleur said. “I know we’re better than that, but that doesn’t mean (expletive) right now because that’s not what we did today. I’ve got to be better for these guys.
“I get what the narrative is in terms of however many 30-point games in a row, but we’ve got to be better as a team, starting with me.”
The Cardinals will do it without Harrison, who was informed he would be traded on Oct. 10, and was inactive for the Oct. 11 game and nowhere near the stadium. His trade to the Texans reunites him with former Ohio State teammate and quarterback C.J. Stroud. Harrison finished with 77 receptions for 1,263 yards and 14 touchdowns during his sophomore season in 2022 while playing with Stroud.
“I think he brings a dynamic playmaker, somebody who runs great routes and can catch pretty much any ball,” Stroud told reporters after Houston’s win over Tennessee. “I’m super excited to get to work with him. I loved him in college. He’s probably the hardest worker I’ve ever been around in my life, and then there’s who he is off the field. He’s a great dude, a quiet guy, but you definitely feel his presence.
“I’m excited to get him here, get him learning and get him around the other guys. I think it’s perfect for him. Fresh starts are good, so I’m excited to have him with us.”
The Cardinals could use a fresh start themselves, although LaFleur doesn’t sound like he’s in any hurry to replace defensive coordinator Nick Rallis or bench starting quarterback Jacoby Brissett for rookie Carson Beck.
One or both of those situations figure to boil over before long, especially with a doomsday-type of schedule that looms ahead. During the next six weeks, the Cardinals play at the Rams, host the Broncos, play at the Cowboys and then at the Seahawks before meeting the Rams again and traveling to Kansas City to play the Chiefs.
Arizona could easily be 1-10 by the end of that stretch.
“Every loss has been very different so far,” LaFleur said, “but we’ve got a lot to figure out between now and Wednesday and obviously going out to L.A. on Sunday.”
And no, he wasn’t about to entertain the idea of making a change at quarterback.
“I’ve got way too many other things that I need to correct right now,” LaFleur said, adding Brissett wasn’t the problem against the Lions. “We were a problem as a team today and again, that starts with me.”
Asked about any potential changes to his defensive coaching staff, LaFleur said, “There’s a lot to fix right now, and I respect the question, I understand that, and I get it comes with the territory. Right now, my focus is me fixing everything and talking to these players, talking to these coaches and figuring out how this never, ever happens again as long as I’m here.”
Whether Harrison was still here or not, another blowout loss by the Cardinals feels like a certainty. There could be a whole series of disasters awaiting them during the next six weeks. The suddenness of Harrison’s departure only served as a distraction a day before this team needed to find a way to win.
“It definitely happened fast,” Brissett said of the trade, adding, “Outside of football, that’s a person that meant a lot to me, and I had a really good relationship with. You never want to see somebody leave.”
The only suspense left now is this: How badly will the Cardinals continue to lose from here?
Reach McManaman at bob.mcmanaman@arizonarepublic. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azbobbymac and listen to him live every Tuesday at 3:30 p.m. on Roc and Manuch with Jimmy B on ESPN 620 (KTAR-AM) and every Thursday on the Doug Franz Unplugged podcast via Apple or Spotify.
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This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona Cardinals trade Marvin Harrison Jr. as season spirals