Will Cardinals Biggest Star Play Against Chargers?

There is a chance that the Los Angeles Chargers won’t have to worry about defending one of the league’s best rookie wide receivers this Monday night against the Arizona Cardinals. Marvin Harrison Jr. exited the team’s game against the Green Bay Packers on Sunday with what was determined to be a concussion. Now four days later, he remains in concussion protocol.

Harrison Remains In Concussion Protocol

Concussions are hard to assess, so the league implemented the concussion protocol to help determine a player’s readiness to resume playing football. Here are the five phases a player must clear to return to full participation in practice.

• Phase 1, symptom-limited activity
• Phase 2, aerobic exercise
• Phase 3, football-specific exercise
• Phase 4, non-contact training drills
• Phase 5, full football activity/clearance

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon said today that Harrison would practice today, which means Harrison is likely in phase 3 or 4.

The No. 4 overall pick of this year’s draft, Harrison has 17 receptions for 279 yards with four touchdowns.

Chargers Secondary

The Chargers secondary continues to reel from injuries. Asante Samuel Jr. was moved to the injured/reserve. Ja’Sir Taylor missed his second consecutive game and Kristian Fulton played half the team’s defensive snaps dealing with a knee issue. Deane Leonard also left the Denver game with a hamstring.

This forced the Chargers to sign cornerback and former first-round pick, Eli Apple. Apple is currently on the team’s practice squad but can be elevated at any point.

While the Chargers’ defense has played phenomenally well, they have yet to face an offense as explosive as this one, and Marvin Harrison is a big reason the team has done as well as they have. They are currently the 8th most explosive offense in football with 12 percent of plays resulting in a big gain.

More must-reads:

• Los Angeles Chargers: 5 Keys To Victory Against The Cardinals
• Chargers Active In WR Trade Talks
• The Los Angeles Chargers Are Quietly The Best Defense In The NFL