ARIZONA CARDINALS

Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald on track to break one of biggest records in 2018

Jun 3, 2018, 9:57 AM | Updated: 1:35 pm

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during an NFL football game against the New Y...

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald (11) during an NFL football game against the New York Giants, Sunday, Dec. 24, 2017, in Glendale, Ariz. The Cardinals won 23-0. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

It was arguably the biggest news for the Arizona Cardinals this offseason: Larry Fitzgerald is returning for the 2018 season.

The news broke back in February, when Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks announced Fitzgerald’s return on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Doug & Wolf during Newsmakers Week.

Aside from the face of the franchise returning for another season, it meant Arizona’s receiving core would again be lead by a veteran Pro Bowler who holds numerous records.

And according to ESPN, Fitzgerald is on track to break one of the NFL’s biggest records during the 2018 season.

The 34-year-old is 92 receptions away from surpassing Tony Gonzalez(1,325) for the second-most in NFL history, and is only 389 yards short of Terrell Owens (15,934) for second on the all-time receiving yards list.

Although Fitzgerald will be 35 years old when the season kicks off, there is no reason to doubt him. He has at least 107 receptions and 1,023 yards in each of the past three seasons, giving him 1,234 and 15,545 over his stellar 14-year career.

He still needs a telescope to see Jerry Rice, who ranks No. 1 on both lists with 1,549 career receptions and a ridiculous 22,895 receiving yards.

Fitzgerald owns the NFL record for the most seasons with 90 or more receptions (eight). He also has the record for most receptions (30), receiving yards (546) and touchdowns (eight) in one postseason.

Injuries along the offensive line and to quarterback Carson Palmer derailed Arizona’s offense last season, causing a below-average outing for Fitzgerald with 109 catches for 1,156 yards.

However, Fitzgerald became only the second player in league history to post at least 100 receptions and 1,000 receiving yards seasons in back-to-back-to-back campaigns beyond the age of 30.

Drafted third overall by the Cardinals in the 2004 NFL Draft, Fitzgerald has caught a pass from 17 different quarterbacks over the course of his career in Arizona. And with Palmer now retired, that list will continue to grow in 2018.

The Cardinals signed free agents Sam Bradford and Mike Glennon this offseason, as well as drafted their future franchise quarterback in Josh Rosen.

Along with new quarterbacks under center, Fitzgerald will have more help on the outside next season.

J.J. Nelson returns after catching 48 percent of his targets last season, trailing only Fitzgerald who reeled in 68 percent of the balls thrown his way.

Second-round pick Christian Kirk adds speed and a big-play ability to the receiving core, while former Dallas Cowboy Brice Butler is ready for an expanded role in Arizona’s offense.

Opposing teams will have to account for the added depth to Arizona’s receivers group, which could prove to be helpful for Fitzgerald on his quest to move up the rankings.

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson (21) stretches during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald runs drills during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks watches his team during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen runs drills during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Patrick Peterson (21) stretches during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Sam Bradford (9) looks away during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterbacks Sam Bradford (9) and Mike Glennon throw during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals quarterback Josh Rosen (3) throws during the NFL team's organized team activity Wednesday, May 23, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' David Johnson (31) runs during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Christian Kirk (13) and Rashad Ross (15) walk in the field during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz.  Kirk took the field Tuesday for the first time since a report surfaced about his arrest in the months before the team chose him in the second round of the NFL draft. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a catch during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Sam Bradford (9) stretches during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Josh Rosen (3) throws during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Sam Bradford (9) throws during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals players stretch during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Josh Rosen (3) throws during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' David Johnson (31) runs during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Sam Bradford (9) hands off to David Johnson (31) during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks watches his players during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Sam Bradford (9) throws during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' Larry Fitzgerald (11) makes a catch during an organized team activity at the NFL football team's training facility, Tuesday, May 15, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Josh Rosen (3) stands with his teammates during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Josh Rosen (3) runs drills during NFL football football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals head coach Steve Wilks watches his players during NFL football football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Josh Rosen (3) stands with his teammates during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York Arizona Cardinals' second-round draft pick Christian Kirk (13) runs drills during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York Arizona Cardinals' fourth-round draft pick Chase Edmonds (29) runs a drill against Jonathan Ownes (42) during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Jos Rosen (3) runs drills during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Jos Rosen (3) runs drills during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York Arizona Cardinals' third-round draft pick Mason Cole (64) stretches during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York Arizona Cardinals' second-round draft pick Christian Kirk (13) runs drills during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Josh Rosen stretches during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York) Arizona Cardinals' first-round draft pick Josh Rosen runs drills during NFL football rookie camp Friday, May 11, 2018, in Tempe, Ariz. (AP Photo/Matt York)

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