Arizona Cardinals’ Larry Fitzgerald on ailing knee: ‘It’s feeling a little better’

TEMPE, Ariz. — The last time Larry Fitzgerald missed a game, Derek Anderson was the starting quarterback at University of Phoenix Stadium for a Week 13 matchup.

For the Cleveland Browns. In 2007. Kurt Warner, on the other hand, was Arizona’s QB, and he guided the Cardinals to an exciting 27-21 victory.

Since then, Fitzgerald has played in 116 consecutive games (including playoffs), which is the second-longest active streak in the NFL among receivers.

Game 117 is in jeopardy, as Fitzgerald is still recovering from a Grade 2 MCL strain suffered in Sunday’s win over the Detroit Lions.

Fitzgerald was held out of practice Wednesday, with head coach Bruce Arians saying the Pro Bowler was a little more sore than expected and was even a bit more “iffy” for Sunday’s game. He was not back on the practice field the next day, either.

“Great,” Fitzgerald joked when asked how he was feeling Thursday.

He was then asked what the chance of him playing against the Seahawks was.

“Umm, I remain optimistic,” he said. “This is the biggest game of our season. It’s the next one, playing against the defending champions at their place, so this is a big game. Obviously NFC standings and our division, so it’s a big one for us.”

Fitzgerald hurt the knee trying to come up with a deep pass in the second quarter. He left the game and went to the locker room, but was back out on the field in the second half. He came up with arguably the most important catch of the game, an 11-yard reception on 3rd-and-11 that gave Arizona a first down and allowed the Cardinals to run out the rest of the clock.

But just because he could play then does not mean he will be able to play now. The 31-year-old is moving in the right direction, though, as he said he did a little bit more Thursday than he did Wednesday.

“It’s feeling a little better and I’ve just got four days until we play, so I’m just remaining optimistic,” he said.

The Cardinals would certainly like to have Fitzgerald available Sunday, though they won’t look for a white flag to wave if he cannot go. The veteran may lead the team in receptions and receiving yards, but there is no shortage of players who could help pick up the slack.

“I feel good,” offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin said of the team’s non-Fitz options. “You guys should too.

“You go back to last weekend, I think Larry maybe caught two or three balls — it was a big day for Michael (Floyd). We’ve got receivers; that’s not a problem. Whoever’s open gets the ball. A lot of times the coverage dictates who gets it, but we’re loaded at receiver. I’m not worried at all.”

Fitzgerald said he’s not sure what kind of role he would have if he’s able to play, adding his only concern is his rehab and focusing on what he can control.

He added that he’s not limited in any way, and that a lack of practice time this week would not be much of an issue for him as long as he is healthy enough to play Sunday.

“I know the game plan,” he said. “There’s nothing different. I haven’t actually run some of the plays, but there’s nothing different. Mentally I know my sights, I know my hots, I’m very familiar with Seattle’s personnel and their schemes and everything like that.

“So I don’t think that would be the issue.”

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