Cardinals HC says rookie WR works 'probably too much'

The Cardinals have big expectations for the No. 4 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr.

The Ohio State product should be the bonafide No. 1 wide receiver Arizona has been missing after reeling in 144 catches for 2,474 yards and 28 touchdowns the past two seasons.

Harrison Jr. is hoping to have the same success at the next level, so he's reportedly been putting in a lot of overtime. However, head coach Jonathan Gannon is worried that could be a problem later in the season.

"He does a lot extra, probably too much, I'm going to be fighting him about that," Gannon said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk.

It's not often coaches complain about their players working too hard, but Gannon knows the NFL season is much longer than college football's and he has carefully planned an offseason schedule to help young players like Harrison Jr. not hit a rookie wall.

"If we're spaced out how many reps and the amount of workload he gets, and then he goes and runs 100 routes on the weekend, he might be dragging today," Gannon added. "Now, he doesn't drag, but I'm just talking about, I love extra work, but you've got to be smart about it. You've got to have a routine about what you're doing."

Harrison Jr. has the chance to have an immediate impact, but whether he'll be able to do that throughout the long 18-week regular season remains up for debate. That's not to mention if the Cardinals find themselves playing extra games in the postseason.

All in all, if the biggest concern surrounding Harrison Jr. is that he's working too much, that's a good problem to have. Arizona's focus will just have to shift to making sure he's not worn out as the year progresses.