DJ Bien-AimeOct 14, 2026, 05:27 PM ETCloseDJ Bien-Aime covers the Houston Texans for ESPN. He joined ESPN in July of 2022 after covering the New York Jets for the New York Daily News. He’s a former athlete who finished his college career at Louisville. You can catch DJ on ESPN Radio on his show “Talkin’ Texans.”Multiple AuthorsOpen Extended ReactionsHOUSTON — Newly acquired Texans wideout Marvin Harrison Jr. will play against the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday, Houston coach DeMeco Ryans said Wednesday.It’s a quick turnaround for Harrison, as he just arrived in Houston on Monday.
The Texans (1-4) sent 2027 second- and seventh-round picks to the Arizona Cardinals to acquire Harrison and a 2027 sixth-round selection after a disappointing start to his career with the Cards.Harrison has just five catches on 13 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown this season. But he said Wednesday he views the new chapter as a “great” opportunity as he reunites with his college quarterback C.J. Stroud. They played together in 2021 and 2022 at Ohio State, and both were All-Americans.”I think the team as a whole it’s a great situation for me,” Harrison said of the Texans.
“Being with a quarterback that you have rapport with and had success with in the past is always great too.”The No. 4 pick in the 2024 NFL draft joins Houston with an underwhelming career stat line of 1,578 yards, 13 touchdowns and 108 receptions in 33 games. When asked why he didn’t produce in Arizona, he said he is “going to take accountability” but that he wants to keep specific information confidential.”I think it’s just a combination of everything,” Harrison said. “I don’t think I can pinpoint one thing. There’s a lot of factors, and I think with any situation, you always want to take accountability for yourself.”I think those things I’ll keep to myself, truthfully.
What I learned in Arizona, I definitely learned a lot. But like I said, I’m really just looking forward.”Harrison passed the physical on Monday and practiced with Houston for the first time Wednesday. There will be an acclimation process in which he’ll learn the playbook, but Ryans said he isn’t worried about the learning part, citing Harrison’s work ethic.”It isn’t hard when the player is attentive and he’s locked in on getting the details down,” Ryans said. “Marvin’s first night here, he was with our assistant wide receiver coach Tiquan [Underwood] and they were grinding.
They were working late at night. 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 seamlessly.”Stroud said he was happy Houston included him in the discussion about acquiring the wideout. But now that Harrison is a Texan, the team will have to fit him into the offense.Harrison is joining a wide receiver room led by Nico Collins, Xavier Hutchinson and Jaylin Noel.
Stroud is humming through five weeks, ranking fourth in passing yards with 1,402.The former college duo will lean on old experiences to rekindle chemistry, Stroud said, which is why he doesn’t think the adjustment will take long.”He’s a really smart kid. I’m not worried about it,” Stroud said of Harrison. “At the end of day, it’s football. You run some very similar routes, just different ways, and I’m very vocal on how I like things done.
He knows that. We’ve had conversations. We’ll continue to just get on the same page.”
