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Marvin Harrison Jr. set for Texans debut as C.J. Stroud defends former Ohio State teammate

Wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. will make his debut for the Houston Texans in Sunday's matchup against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

The contest between the Texans and Jaguars is scheduled for Sunday, October 16, 2026, at 9:29 am ET. Houston acquired Harrison from the Arizona Cardinals in a trade executed one week before his upcoming debut, sending a 2027 second-round draft selection to Arizona in exchange for the wideout.

Prior to the trade, Harrison caught five passes for 85 yards across four games with the Arizona Cardinals during the current season. As a rookie with the Cardinals, he started 16 contests and collected 62 receptions for 885 yards and eight touchdowns.

A concussion Harrison suffered last season contributed to a regression in his offensive production.

Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud publicly defended Harrison during a Wednesday press conference. Speaking about Harrison, Stroud stated, "I don’t think anybody ever is a finished product. You’re always learning ways to get better." Stroud added, "For Marvin, he knows that. He’s a heck of a player."

Stroud highlighted Harrison's skills on the field, noting his work ethic, praising his route-running ability, and calling him "a very quarterback-friendly receiver" who "gets open on time." Looking back at Ohio State, the quarterback recalled that Harrison and Emeka Egbuka ranked among the most mature freshmen he had been around at Ohio State.

The Texans quarterback expressed personal excitement regarding the roster addition, noting, "It’s nice to have my guy back, and I’m excited to be rolling with him." Stroud also noted, "I always known [Marvin Harrison Jr.] was special," while pointing to the receiver's reception within the building by stating, "Everybody’s been saying how much of a good dude he is, how nice he’s been."

This report also draws on coverage from Pro Football Talk, Yahoo Sports, Larry Brown Sports, Houston Texans, Athlon Sports.

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