Larry Fitzgerald praises Washington TE Logan Thomas’ athletic ability
Sep 19, 2020, 8:44 AM
Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald #11 of the Arizona Cardinals makes a reception against the Cleveland Browns during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on December 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The Cardinals defeated the Browns 38-24. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
Larry Fitzgerald has a whole lot of former teammates. That’s kind of how it works when you’ve been in the NFL for 17 years, and if it’s with just one team, that’s a rather encyclopedic knowledge of the roster.
OK, maybe it doesn’t go that far, but if you ask Fitzgerald about someone who passed through the Arizona Cardinals since 2004, odds are he can tell you a thing or two about them.
Logan Thomas is a guy to ask about.
The Cardinals drafted him in the fourth round of the 2014 NFL Draft as a quarterback project, but the Virginia Tech product spent one season in Arizona before he made the move from quarterback to tight end in 2016. Now, it’s paying off.
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Thomas appeared in 16 games for the first time in his NFL career as a member of the Detroit Lions last season, tallying 16 receptions for 173 yards and one touchdown. Now he is the starting tight end for the Washington Football Team, Arizona’s Week 2 opponent.
Fitzgerald seeing his old teammate succeeding at a new position isn’t surprising to him after what he saw from Thomas athletically during the 2014 season.
“Logan’s a great athlete. He’s one of those guys that you put a basketball in his hands, he can do it,” he said. “You play him in ping pong, he’s good at that. You put a pool stick in his hands … he’s one of those guys that can literally play any sport, do whatever — he’s just gifted like that.”
There’s more to it beyond that that Fitzgerald sees as well.
“He’s very intelligent. You go from quarterback to playing any other position, it’s actually much easier,” he said. “He has great feet, taking all the drops and doing the things that quarterbacks do all those years, so he gets in and out of his breaks. If he has to block, he’s 6-foot-6, 250 pounds. He’s a massive man.”
Thomas could wind up being a big factor in Sunday’s game, not only because of the Cardinals’ struggles in defending tight ends last season. The 29-year-old had a team-high eight targets in Week 1.
“It’s not surprising that he’s out there doing his thing,” Fitzgerald said. “I’m happy for him. Any time you see a former teammate having success, you just gotta tip your hat to him.”
