Glendale, Ariz. — The Detroit Lions visited the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium for a Week 5 matchup with Cardinals wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. listed as inactive while a trade was reported to be near.
Cardinals coaches planned to deactivate Harrison Jr. against Detroit as the club worked to finalize a deal for the former first-round pick, a development that thinned Arizona’s top receiving threat.
Without Harrison Jr., the Cardinals’ leading pass-catchers include tight end Trey McBride and wide receivers Michael Wilson and Kendrick Bourne, according to the pregame notes circulating around the Lions’ trip to the desert.
The Lions entered the game at 2-2 looking to get back in the win column on the road after averaging 29.8 points and 389.3 yards per game, numbers that still left head coach Dan Campbell asking the offense for a quicker start.
Quarterback Jared Goff was second in the NFL in passing yards with 1,214 through four games, with nine touchdowns, a 108.6 passer rating and no interceptions, while tight end Sam LaPorta ranked among the league leaders with 22 receptions.
Detroit also elevated veteran safety Jalen Mills from the practice squad ahead of the Cardinals game, using a final elevation as the secondary navigated absences and looked for steadier pass defense in Glendale.
