Cards' Boldin suffers knee injury in practice
By Darren Urban, Tribune
Boldin
FLAGSTAFF — Arizona Cardinals Pro Bowl receiver Anquan Boldin went down before Tuesday morning’s practice when his right knee locked up, scaring the team and putting into question Boldin’s immediate future.
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Coach Dennis Green said tests were performed and the team hoped to have a definite answer on Boldin’s status by this afternoon. But Boldin walked to the team cafeteria under his own power and with barely a trace of a limp soon after the practice was over, and it is hoped the problem is not serious.
Boldin, through a team spokesman, declined to talk to the media. Boldin was carted off the field while doing some low impact drills prior to practice. Green said Boldin not only wasn’t running but he was “barely jogging” when the knee froze. Boldin also sat out Monday’s morning workout because of swelling in the same knee.
Boldin underwent ligament reconstruction of his left knee while in college and missed an entire season.
Losing Boldin for any amount of time would be disaster for the Cardinals, who already lost running back Marcel Shipp — who was likely going to see significant time as Emmitt Smith’s backup — to an broken leg, likely for the season. Shipp underwent surgery Tuesday.
Boldin was not only a Pro Bowler but also NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2003, when he had 101 catches for 1,377 yards and eight touchdowns. He was supposed to team with No. 1 pick Larry Fitzgerald and 2003 first-rounder Bryant Johnson as the centerpiece of Green’s three-receiver offense, but Johnson hasn’t practice since training camp began because of a stress fracture in his right foot.
“I try not to think that way,” Fitzgerald said. “BJ and Anquan are a huge part of this team and we definitely want to be a unit. This is football. You can’t control the injuries. Those guys are tough and I know they are going to be OK.”