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Lions have no Marvin Harrison Jr. to worry about (but there's still plenty to fear)

ByCandace Pedraza
Marvin Harrison Jr. could be set for a breakout performance as the Cardinals host the Lions in Week 5.
Marvin Harrison Jr. could be set for a breakout performance as the Cardinals host the Lions in Week 5. | USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect

The Detroit Lions don't have Marvin Harrison Jr. to worry about in Week 5.

The Arizona Cardinals wide receiver - er, the former receiver - is inactive for the teams' game against the Lions on Sunday afternoon. He will be traded imminently, per ESPN's Adam Schefter, although it's anyone guess as to where he will be sent. I think you can assume any receiver-needy team is in this race, but specifically any team that's desperate to get back on track this year.

It gives the Lions some breathing room as they're trying to post at least one game before the bye week that doesn't feature an unseemly amount of yards given up by their secondary. However, while Harrison Jr. might've had a career day against Detroit, he's far from the Cardinals' bigges threat in the air.

Lions are still at risk of another terrible defensive outing in Week 5

Wide receivers Michael WIlson and Kendrick Bourne, as well as tight end Trey McBride, will likely give the Lions fits in Week 5. Unless rookie cornerback Keith Abney II and safety Jalen Mills actually provide some surprising pop in their secondary, we're probably in for another embarrassing game fro the defense thanks to these weapons.

It's going to be a shootout assuming the Lions' offensive line is able to contain the Cardinals' solid pass rush, but that's yet another example of how the onus remains on the offense to generate wins, and not simply generate points. Their greatest defense right now is their scoring, and without that (as we saw in Week 4), they have no shot.

READ MORE: 3 positions other than cornerback that Lions should reinforce at trade deadline

Bourne a sleeper to go off vs. Lions' defense

Bourne will be an underrated part to the puzzle against the Lions' defense in this game. The receiver runs 68% of his routes from the slot, per Fantasy Points DFS and Best Ball, and Detroit gives up a significant amount of their yards in the air to opposings teams' slot receivers. It's by design of their defense, unfortunately.

As a result, Bourne could be the one to really hurt the Lions in this game. If Abney is unable to lock him down at the nickel, Jacoby Brissett can really make the team pay. Of course, Brissett has yet to have a dominant outing for the Cardinals since their Week 1 win, and just threw three picks against the New York Giants in Week 4.

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