Let’s face it. First impressions are vital.
You get a bloody nostril in your first date? Not splendid.
You hit a parked automotive in your driver’s take a look at? Whoops.
You catch one go for 4 yards in your extremely anticipated NFL debut? Large yikes!
OK, possibly the final instance was a bit of harsh. You won’t get that second date, and also you may need to attend to get your driver’s license, however there’s at all times a chance to erase the reminiscence of 1 dud sport if you happen to’re an NFL receiver with huge expertise.
Listed here are three gamers who may bounce again in Week 2:
WR Marvin Harrison Jr., Arizona Cardinals
Sure, we all know, one catch for 4 yards. However give it some thought this manner: 4 yards is 12 toes!
Sarcasm apart, it’s far too early to overreact to Harrison’s quiet debut. Quarterback Kyler Murray ended up focusing totally on Trey McBride (9 targets) and Greg Dortch (eight), and James Conner received 4 targets out of the backfield.
Harrison was fourth with a trio of targets, and he caught solely a kind of passes. However if you happen to dig a bit of deeper, you see that he was on the sector for 55 performs—90.2% of Arizona’s offense. That was greater than McBride (52 snaps, 85.3 p.c), Conner (41 snaps, 67.2 p.c), and Dortch (37 snaps, 60.7 p.c).
The rookie goes to be OK. We expect.
TE Travis Kelce, Kansas Metropolis Chiefs
Feb. 12, 2023: Andy Reid and Travis Kelce have a good time the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs’ win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Tremendous Bowl LVII at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona. credit: Michael Chow / USA TODAY NETWORK Haters gonna hate, and many others., however Kelce is aware of to shake it off in terms of Week 1.
In some methods, Kelce was fortunate that the Chiefs went up in opposition to the Baltimore Ravens within the season opener. Many of the tight finish consternation centered on the opposite aspect of the sector, the place Mark Andrews bought sizzling canine within the stands whereas Isaiah Doubtless caught a whopping 9 passes for 111 yards and a landing.
Andrews is “Doubtless” dealing with large competitors from his teammate all season. However Kelce is in a special scenario in Kansas Metropolis, the place he’s nonetheless the clear alpha at his place.
Take a look at routes run: Kelce was concerned in 48 performs, which represented 88.9 p.c of Kansas Metropolis’s offense. No different pass-catcher was on the sector as a lot as he was. He completed with solely three receptions for 34 yards, however keep affected person. Kelce has large video games on the way in which.
WR Brandon Aiyuk, San Francisco 49ers
Nov 19, 2023; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers broad receiver Brandon Aiyuk (11) leans into the play in opposition to Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive again Dee Delaney (30) through the second quarter at Levi’s Stadium. credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports activities Aiyuk spent many of the preseason watching clips of Jerry Maguire — “Showww Me the Cash!!!” — so it wasn’t an enormous shock that he was quiet in Week 1. He caught two passes for 28 yards from Brock Purdy, who will be a part of him on the way in which to the financial institution quickly.
Aiyuk informed reporters after the sport that he felt like he was in fine condition and that conditioning was not a think about his debut. It is sensible, as he had loads of time to work out all offseason, and he merely needed to modify to sport velocity and call after so little follow.
This week may very well be a chance for Aiyuk to get his toes again underneath him and the soccer again in his grip. The Minnesota Vikings are skinny at cornerback, and whereas they did an important job shutting down Daniel Jones and the New York Giants final week, they’ll have their arms full with the 49ers’ many weapons. That features Aiyuk, who can be sensible to not attempt to lug his duffel bag of money on his receiver routes this week.
