Cards' Boldin hopes to play vs. Packers
Arizona's Anquan Boldin is doing everything he can to be healthy
enough to play in the Cardinals' wild-card game against the Green
Bay Packers.
The three-time Pro Bowl receiver didn't practice again on
Friday because of a left high ankle sprain, a condition compounded
by a sprained left knee. He was listed as questionable for Sunday's
game.
He said doctors have been at his house at night "poking and
prodding'' and he's had acupuncture treatments.
"I'm doing everything within my power to make sure I'm on the
field Sunday,'' Boldin said. "If I'm not able to go, trust me, it
won't be anything I didn't do.''
Coach Ken Whisenhunt says Boldin's participation will be a
game-time decision.
"He's doing a good job. He's progressing well,'' Whisenhunt
said, "but we won't know until Sunday.''
Three of Arizona's other injured players, all starters,
practiced on a limited basis: defensive end Calais Campbell (broken
left thumb), safety Antrel Rolle (injured right thigh), and
cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie (bruised left kneecap).
All were listed as questionable, as was starting right guard
Deuce Lutui, who went through a full practice after missing
Thursday's workout with back spasms.
Boldin was hurt in Sunday's 33-7 loss to the Packers.
Although Whisenhunt pulled most of his starters early, he left
Boldin in the game in the third quarter to help struggling backup
quarterback Matt Leinart.
Boldin missed a game earlier this season with a right high
ankle sprain, although he complained at the time that he was
healthy enough to play. With a career checkered with injuries, this
wouldn't be the first time Boldin has played without practicing the
previous week.
"Every day I wake up it's a little better,'' he said. "Today
it's a little sore just from all the stuff I've been doing during
the week. ... Today I'm going to let it rest and see how it settles
down and maybe test it tomorrow.''
Campbell was planning to play, cast or no cast.
"I don't think it will hurt too bad,'' he said. "It might
help a little on the pass rush and chopping and ripping and all
that good stuff. We'll see what happens.''
Rolle, a Pro Bowl alternate, sat out the last game and was
limited on Friday.
"It's kind of frustrating because it's one particular
movement that complicates everything, but it's' going along very
well,'' he said. ``I'm doing rehab from six in the morning to
sometimes midnight, one o'clock in the morning, so I'm kind of
tired.''
Rolle, second on the team to linebacker Karlos Dansby with 90
tackles, also has four interceptions - one returned for a touchdown
- 1 1/2 sacks and five quarterback hits. He said he might have to
just fight through the pain.
"There's a lot at stake. I was talking to Bertrand (Berry)
today, and he said he's played 13 years and been in four playoff
games,'' Rolle said. "If I can fight through it, I'm going to fight
it. That's what I'm going to do.''
Rodgers-Cromartie was progressing well after being hurt when
he fell on a receiver's cleat on the third play last Sunday.
"He looks fine to me from what I've seen,'' Whisenhunt said.
"He has a lot of energy moving around out here. He looks good.''