Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray made one thing abundantly clear regarding wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.’s role in the offense, sending a message to his teammates about the importance of the ground game. Coming off a 2-0 start to the 2025 season, Murray addressed two of the hottest questions surrounding the team: how often Harrison is being targeted and why Arizona’s once-storied run game has simply ceased.

Murray didn’t shy away from the questions surrounding Harrison Jr.’s production. “There’s only one ball,” he said at the press conference. “We’ve been playing this game for a long time. Some days he’s gonna get 10, and some days he might get 3. … You never know.” Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. has seen just 11 passes thrown his way during the first two games of the season. He opened with five catches (six targets) for 71 yards and a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints and had only two catches (five targets) for 27 yards in last Sunday’s victory over the Carolina Panthers.

The quarterback stressed patience, saying game flow, defensive looks, and situations dictate where the ball goes. He also focused on being unpredictable. On the other hand, Arizona’s strong start hasn’t been tension-free. The Cardinals were expected to collapse in both games, on the verge of losing huge second-half advantages and looking out of balance on offense. However, they still won both games.

Harrison Jr., who saw fewer passes come his way than backup running back Trey Benson (6) during Week 2’s contest against Carolina, will now be waiting to receive more receptions. And the captain of the team, Murray’s words hint at a longer view. Arizona’s perfect run might slow down, but Murray’s point is clear: balance and trust matter most. Harrison Jr. won’t light it up every week, but if the Cardinals find their rhythm and stay unpredictable, the big plays will come.

Kyler Murray issues locker room warning

The Arizona Cardinals built their offense around a physical ground game that was among the top in the NFL till two seasons ago. Now that the foundation appears to be disintegrating, quarterback Kyler Murray isn’t afraid to get real about what it does for the team’s offensive potential. Following Arizona’s Week 2 win, Murray openly admitted to the disparity. ”I think that is something that we definitely hang our head on,” he said.

“Trying to win the line of scrimmage and being able to get the run game going, establish that in the past two games, kind of in lack thereof.” His words were a low-key warning to teammates and the locker room as a whole. The Cardinals’ identity on offense is coming unglued, and unless swift changes are implemented, their good start might not continue.

Murray also reminded the locker room how much has changed since Arizona’s peak on the field. “I mean what, two years ago, I think we were top five,” he explained, creating a clear comparison between then and now. This was not nostalgia; this was a stern reminder of how competitive Arizona was. The quarterback explained that without an effective run game, the offense is easier to defend. Offense coordinator Drew Petzing said he is continuing to search for the appropriate balance, but the urgency is genuine.

Most apparent was Murray’s candor about his own tendencies versus the team’s needs.“We have to run the ball,” he said. “There has to be at times we got to run the ball. We got to hand the ball off. Do I wish we could throw it every play? Of course. But, that’s just not how this game works. So we got to keep the defense honest.” 

With pass-catching option targets Marvin Harrison Jr., Michael Wilson, and Trey McBride all in hot demand, the quarterback made balance the most important key to releasing the full potential of Arizona’s passing game. Looking towards future divisional games, Murray’s open challenge is the structure: until Arizona regains its ground game identity, its ceiling will remain capped even with a perfect start.