Arizona Cardinals poised to get Larry Fitzgerald back this Sunday

TEMPE, Ariz. — For the third consecutive week, Larry Fitzgerald has expressed optimism that he will be able to play Sunday for the Arizona Cardinals.

Unlike the last two weeks, however, he has practiced both Wednesday and Thursday, providing evidence that he may finally be over the sprained knee that sidelined him in the team’s losses to Seattle and Atlanta.

“I feel good,” the receiver said after practice Thursday. “I’ve been able to do everything the last two days. It’s great to be back in the huddle with the guys, getting the plays and running the routes.

“It’s been nice.”

Assuming Fitzgerald does indeed suit up Sunday, it will certainly be nice to have him back.

While the receiver’s return should not be viewed as a type of panacea for an offense that has scored just one touchdown over its last two games, there’s little doubt his insertion back into the lineup will help.

“I think that he’s a guy that’s obviously played at a high level in this league for a long period of time,” Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton said. “Anytime you can get that experience back on the field and that passion, it’ll be very nice to have him back out there.”

Even having missed two games, Fitzgerald still leads Arizona in receptions (46) and yards (658). Thirty-one of his catches have gone for a first down.

“Larry brings a ton of passion, and he’s also a big playmaker,” Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said, before noting that Fitzgerald would have caught some high passes that fell incomplete the last two weeks. “He’s not dropping the one in Seattle, that’s for sure.

“Jaron’s (Brown) never dropped one, either. But, the passion and energy, and an All-Pro player, that’s hard to replace.”

He’s an eight-time Pro Bowl selection for a reason, after all.

“Energy,” offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin responded when asked about having Fitzgerald back. “We know Larry’s going to bring energy to the game; he’s going to get the receivers excited as well as the whole offense.

“Just that leadership, him being out there, should help us offensively.”

Fitzgerald’s return could not have been timed much better. At 9-3 the Cardinals are still leading the NFC West and in good shape to make the postseason, but they’ve lost two straight and have lost the vise grip they once had in the NFC race.

His talent, leadership and passion will be important as the Cardinals try to right the ship.

“I mean, all hands on deck is always great,” Fitzgerald said. “Having everybody you can have available to play is what you want, as a team. So as many guys as we can get back out there who are starters, the better off we’re going to be.

“But, if not, the guys that are playing have got to step up. We’ve won with guys who weren’t starters before, so we’re not making excuses for anything. We’ve just got to find a way to go out there and get a win.”

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