Cards notebook: Fitzgerald still bothered by ankle

[azdad1978]

By Dan Zeiger, Tribune

Learning the nuances of playing wide receiver in the NFL is hard, but it is even more so while playing on a tender ankle.

That’s something Cardinals rookie Larry Fitzgerald is learning. Fitzgerald leads the team with 14 receptions for 143 yards, but — thanks to the sore left ankle and overall woes of the Arizona offense — there have been few glimpses of the receiver that dazzled at the University of Pittsburgh.

“I think he is still fighting that injury,” quarterback Josh McCown said. “Only Larry knows how far each week that sets him back. It’s a hard thing to play on. Hopefully at some point. . . it will be 100 percent.”

Fitzgerald had little to say about his ankle, which was hurt in the preseason opener at Minnesota.

“I’m getting healthier each day,” Fitzgerald said Thursday. “It’s a long season.. . .

“Anyone with an injury knows that it’s something you have to deal with.”
Whether due to frustration or pain, Fitzgerald did not run a handful of routes at full speed in last week’s game at Atlanta. And that has not gone unnoticed by some in the organization.

While Anquan Boldin is a receiver who is capable of getting yardage after the catch on quick passes, Fitzgerald looks more like one who needs to get open downfield to do any major damage.

“It’s a process of getting him the ball,” McCown said. “He is still learning, and he will continue to learn and find ways to get himself open.”

INJURY REPORT

Running back Emmitt Smith was officially put on the injury report with hip pain stemming from Sunday’s game at Atlanta, but he will play against New Orleans.

“They put me on it?” said Smith, who is listed as probable. “They didn’t have to do that. I’m sure they did it just to give people something to talk about. I’m OK.”

Defensive tackle Ross Kolodziej (ankle) remains questionable. Defensive end Bertrand Berry (groin), safety Quentin Harris (quadriceps), wide receiver Nathan Poole (quadriceps), outside linebacker Raynoch Thompson (knee) and wide receiver Karl Williams (shoulder) all made it through the entire practice Thursday.

ANGRY AARON

New Orleans running back Aaron Stecker, replacing injured Deuce McAllister (ankle sprain) in last week’s game at St. Louis, ran as if he had something to prove. Turns out he did have something to prove.

“I had a lot of motivation,” said Stecker, who ran for a career-high 106 yards and a touchdown against the Rams. “ESPN, the NFL Network and the papers were (acting) like our season was done.

“It was like, ‘They have a guy named Aaron Stecker, who’s he? He has only two starts in his career and he has not done much. He won’t do anything.’ That was my motivation.”

Though he has been upgraded to questionable for this week, McAllister is expected to miss at least three more games.

EXTRA POINTS

Green said he expects backup running back Troy Hambrick to play more in the coming weeks. “I think he can do well for us,” Green said. . . A total of 47,843 tickets for Sunday’s game were available as of noon Thursday, meaning the game will be blacked out in the Valley.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/index.php?sty=28959

 

[Russ Smith]

One of the articles yesterday said ankle(s) plural as if he's now got 2 bad ankles?

 

[Rocco]

One of the articles yesterday said ankle(s) plural as if he's now got 2 bad ankles?

I got the same impression as you from yesterday's article but dismissed it as poor reporting. I don't think we would have seen him come back after three weeks rest and play with two ankle sprains though it does depend on the severity of the sprain.

From what I understand, ankle sprains are graded from 1 (mild stretch of the ligaments) to 3 (complete tear of the ligaments which usually involvles surgury to stabilize the joint). I think Larry has a grade 2 sprain, which could mean anything from a moderate stretch of the ligaments to a partial tear. Since it took three weeks for him to start running again, plus the statements by Green that the ankle won't heal until after the season, I suspect the sprain was pretty severe.

I really wish Jim O was still posting here to give us some insight on how much the ankle is affecting him. The press surely isn't.

 

[clif]

he actually sprained the ankle twice in the minnesota game.

 

[Rocco]

he actually sprained the ankle twice in the minnesota game.

Hmmm, this makes me suspect that he injured it further by trying to play on it.

Hope the same thing isn't happening now.

 

[spanky1]

My guess is that Jim O can't post here for fear of losing his job. Remember that Green has a distaste for people who speak about the team and what is happening behind closed doors.

 

[earthsci]

My guess is that Jim O can't post here for fear of losing his job.

Nope. Jim made it pretty clear that he was avoiding the board due to all the negativity.

 

[C-MACK]

Nope. Jim made it pretty clear that he was avoiding the board due to all the negativity.

When has there not been negativity on this board? When your team has struggled since its inception the negativity will always be there. I don't think things were any more negative than they were when we were losing game after game the last few years. This board has never been a happy place loaded with bandwagon fans. Jim O always hung in there. The only difference now is that DG is in place and this site has lost all of its insights & priveleges. I'd be willing to bet that all those Ask Dave Pasch interviews during camp and the input from Jim O are gone along with Skkorps press pass as long as Green is in charge.

 

[earthsci]

When has there not been negativity on this board? When your team has struggled since its inception the negativity will always be there. I don't think things were any more negative than they were when we were losing game after game the last few years. This board has never been a happy place loaded with bandwagon fans. Jim O always hung in there. The only difference now is that DG is in place and this site has lost all of its insights & priveleges. I'd be willing to bet that all those Ask Dave Pasch interviews during camp and the input from Jim O are gone along with Skkorps press pass as long as Green is in charge.

Preach all you want C-MACK. Jim said that he was going to avoid the board due to the negativity. Hell, people have a right to be negative if they want. Jim has a right not to come here.

 

[C-MACK]

Preach all you want C-MACK. Jim said that he was going to avoid the board due to the negativity. Hell, people have a right to be negative if they want. Jim has a right not to come here.

I'm not preaching. Jim was one of the things that made this board special. He would alway post the latest news and give us tidbits of info. He'd also clear up the occasional debate for us. He is gone now as is the site's press credentials and any hope of getting info from the team. Jim definitely has a right not to come here. I just don't know if it is him who is making that call. He spent a lot of time on here over the last few years and seemed to enjoy getting involved with various discussions. The fact is that he is sorely missed.