Toronto Star
· collected 2026-10-13 · by David Brandt The Associated Press
Marvin Harrison Jr.'s trade from the Arizona Cardinals to the Houston Texans marks a significant departure for the struggling franchise, which has seen several unsuccessful draft picks and poor performances recently. General Manager Monti Ossenfort faces increasing pressure with his team having a 16-40 record over three seasons and now questioning whether rookie Carson Beck might replace Jacoby Brissett at quarterback. The article highlights Ossenfort’s draft failures, including Paris Johnson Jr., Darius Robinson, and Walter Nolen III, all of whom have failed to meet expectations or suffered setbacks.
Written locally by qwen2.5:14b on 2026-10-13,
using this article's own text rather than the other coverage of the
same event (that is the story summary below).
Why this leaning score
This article does not take a side on a contested political
question, so it has no leaning score. That is an
answer rather than a gap: a match report or a rescue can be warmly
or critically written without being left or right, and scoring it
anyway is how approval of a subject gets recorded as a political
position.
No political leaning scored for article 75650 · logged 2026-10-13
The clunky conclusion to Marvin Harrison Jr.‘s flameout with the Arizona Cardinals was the lowlight this week for a franchise that’s had a lot of them in recent seasons.
asserted
that → have → seasons
It’s fair to wonder if others in the organization could soon be following the former No. 4 overall pick out the door.
uncertain
others → ’ → door
Harrison’s awkward trade to the Houston Texans — which happened in the middle of the Cardinals’ embarrassing 45-21 loss to the Detroit Lions — was another stain on general manager Monti Ossenfort’s resume.
asserted
which → happen → resume
Ossenfort has a 16-40 record after three-plus seasons in the desert and things don’t look like they’re getting better anytime soon.
asserted
they → have → desert
“Decisions like this are never easy,” Ossenfort said in a statement after the Harrison trade became official Monday.
asserted
trade → say → statement
“Ultimately, we have to do what is best for our football team and that will always be the driving factor.
asserted
that → have → team
We are extremely grateful to Marvin for what he has contributed to our organization and wish him the very best as he moves forward in his career.”
asserted
he → contribute → career
The Cardinals selected left tackle Paris Johnson Jr. at No. 6 in 2023, and he’s been good, but not necessarily the franchise anchor that many expected.
asserted
many → select → that
Now he’s out for the season with a torn left biceps.
asserted
he → ’ → biceps
Harrison obviously didn’t work out and the Cardinals’ other pick in the first round in 2024 was No. 27 selection Darius Robinson, a defensive lineman who has failed to make much impact.
asserted
who → work → impact
In 2025, the Cardinals selected defensive lineman Walter Nolen III, who has flashed some potential but has struggled with injuries and hasn’t consistently produced.
asserted
who → select → injuries
Cardinals defensive coordinator Nick Rallis had another rough day against the Lions.
asserted
Rallis → have → Lions
Arizona’s defense has given up 37 points per game during the four-game losing streak.
asserted
defense → give → streak
First-year coach Mike LaFleur inherited Rallis from the previous staff and — at least for now — still believes he’s the man for the job.
asserted
he → inherit → job
“We just haven’t consistently done it for 60 minutes,” LaFleur said.
asserted
LaFleur → do → minutes
“We need to tackle that.
asserted
We → need → that
There’s going to be no changes with play-callers, but we’re looking at how to improve this defense and make sure that we are better than what we’re putting out there. ...
asserted
we → go → what
I do believe we have the right guys on defense to play better.
asserted
we → believe → defense
The 33-year-old Brissett had another decent statistical game vs. the Lions with 292 yards passing, three touchdowns and an interception, but he has a 2-15 record as the team’s starter over the past two seasons.
asserted
he → have → seasons
It’s fair to wonder if the Cardinals might look to the future and give rookie Carson Beck a shot under center.
uncertain
Cardinals → ’ → center
The 24-year-old was a third-round selection out of Miami and had some good moments during the preseason.
asserted
old → have → preseason
What’s working
All-Pro tight end Trey McBride continues to be among the best players in the NFL.
asserted
McBride → work → NFL
He caught nine passes for 66 yards, including an unreal nine-yard catch in the fourth quarter where he fought for a contested ball, snagging it out of the air and somehow keeping both feet down in the end zone.
asserted
he → catch → zone
The only blemish was the highlight happened after the game was out of hand.
asserted
game → happen → hand
What needs help
The Cardinals’ running game didn’t do much at all against the Lions.
asserted
game → need → Lions
Rookie Jeremiyah Love gained just 22 yards on 12 carries and he was constantly swallowed at the line of scrimmage.
asserted
he → gain → scrimmage
Arizona had to make changes along the offensive line last week with Johnson going on season-ending injured reserve and right guard Isaiah Adams (ankle) out for at least four weeks.
asserted
Adams → have → weeks
There were a lot of people — including droves of Cardinals fans — who probably didn’t know that third-string TE Teagan Quitoriano was even on the roster.
asserted
Quitoriano → be → roster
But he came up big Sunday, catching two TD passes, including the first score which briefly gave the Cardinals a 7-0 lead.
asserted
which → come → lead
The 26-year-old has emerged as another threat in a deep tight end room that includes McBride and Elijah Higgins.
asserted
that → emerge → McBride
Love — the No. 3 overall pick out of Notre Dame — is a talented player who has already displayed explosive and shifty moments out of the backfield.
asserted
who → display → backfield
But with the Cardinals’ offensive line looking a little rough, it might be hard to unlock his potential.
uncertain
it → look → potential
The Cardinals emerged from the game relatively healthy.
asserted
Cardinals → emerge → game
Key number
9 — That’s the length of the team’s current home losing streak, which is a franchise record for an organization that dates to 1920.
asserted
that → ’ → 1920
Next steps
The Cardinals travel to face the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.
asserted
Cardinals → travel → Sunday
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