Marvin Harrison Jr. will make his Houston Texans debut this Sunday in London after a rapid adjustment period, head coach DeMeco Ryans confirmed on Wednesday. Harrison’s ability to quickly learn the team’s playbook and terminology impressed the coaching staff, allowing him to join the active roster for the game against the Jacksonville Jaguars.
“I thought Marvin did a really good job today, getting acclimated,” Ryans said during his press conference. “Our coaches have done a great job in the background, really working with him, getting him caught up to speed on our plays, the verbiage of what we’re doing. Got in and ran some plays today, did a good job.”
Harrison, who arrived in Houston recently, has been working closely with assistant wide receivers coach Tiquan Underwood. Ryans described how the rookie spent his first night with Underwood studying the playbook late into the evening, a dedication that helped him get a day ahead of schedule.
“Getting a player caught up, it isn’t hard when the player is attentive and he’s locked in on getting the details down,” Ryans said. “So Marvin’s first night here, he was with our assistant wide receivers coach, coach Tiquan, and they were grinding — they were working late at night. And they were in the playbook, grinding. And that allowed him to get a day ahead and now he was able to go out there today and just fit right in.”
The Texans hope Harrison will add offensive depth after he played four games with the Arizona Cardinals earlier this season. In that time, he caught five passes for 85 yards and scored one touchdown. His role in Houston is still developing, but Ryans’ comments suggest the coaching staff is confident Harrison can quickly contribute.
Harrison’s transition to Houston comes during a challenging stretch for the Texans, who will face the Jaguars in London as part of the NFL’s international series. The game offers a chance for Harrison to showcase his skills on a bigger stage, just weeks after joining the team.
Ryans highlighted the importance of Harrison’s focus and work ethic in adjusting to the Texans’ system. “So, when you put the work in and you’re dialed in, you can make it work,” he said.
The Texans’ coaching staff has been closely involved in bringing Harrison up to speed on their schemes and terminology, which Ryans credited for the smooth integration. The London game will be Harrison’s first opportunity to wear the Texans uniform in a regular-season NFL contest.
With the wide receiver corps in flux, Harrison’s quick acclimation could offer Houston more options on offense. The Texans will be watching closely to see if he can match or exceed the production he showed in limited action with Arizona.
As of Wednesday, the Texans have confirmed Harrison will be active and available for Sunday’s game in London. The team’s preparations will continue through the week as they finalize their game plan for the matchup against the Jaguars.
According to Yahoo Sports.