Key receiver back from another injury to face Rams

Associated Press
Thu, Nov 17, 2005

TEMPE, Ariz. -- Anquan Boldin`s storied toughness has been tested again this year, most recently by a bruised knee.

But the fact he`s back after sitting out just two games may be a sign the third-year wide receiver`s luck is changing.

Boldin worked out with his Arizona Cardinals teammates Thursday, his first full practice with the team since before a road game against Dallas on Oct. 30. All that week, Boldin struggled with pain in his right knee, and he took his himself out in the fourth quarter when it really began to hurt.

At the time, coach Dennis Green feared the damage was torn meniscus, but two MRI examinations found only a deep bone bruise. Doctors recommended two weeks of rest, so Boldin sat out losses to Seattle and Detroit.

``He went from questionable to probable,`` Green said about Boldin`s problem-free workout Thursday.

Boldin was all smiles coming off the practice field and didn`t expect a recurring problems.

``I did everything that the coaches asked me to do, as well as the trainers,`` he said. ``They wanted me to rest it, so that`s what I did. The only thing I did was ride the bike. I didn`t do any running on it, because I was trying to speak to the doctors` orders.

``I took another MRI on Monday, and they gave me the OK to go out and test it.``

The former high school quarterback will find out Sunday if his knee will hold up in competition.

The Cardinals (2-7) need to beat the Rams in St. Louis to stop their three-game losing streak and have a chance to finish the season in style. Their chances should be increased by having a healthy Boldin in the lineup.

Boldin set an NFL rookie record with 101 catches for 1,357 yards in 2003, becoming only the 13th rookie to go over 1,000 yards. Even more eye-catching than his numbers were his fearlessness over the middle and his ability to shed tacklers and run after the catch. In no time at all, he became one of the most prominent players of a perennially losing team.

``I`m not a star,`` said second-year receiver Larry Fitzgerald, who had 17 of his NFL-best 61 catches while Boldin was sidelined. ``I`m just working to get there. Anquan is the star, so hopefully they`ll double-team him a lot.``

The bruise was Boldin`s second injury since training camp began. His nose was broken early in camp, but he sat out just one exhibition game before returning to the lineup.

It was the second straight year with a training camp accident. He missed the first six regular-season games last season after tearing the meniscus in his right knee warming up early in camp.

Boldin still is second on the Cardinals in catches (39), and his 15.8-yard-per-catch average is the best among the regular receivers.

``It`s been tough,`` Boldin said. ``For me it`s tough any time I`m away from the game of football. The only thing I can do is get out there right now and try to help out as much as possible.``

Oddsmakers have set the Cardinals as 9 1/2-point road underdogs in St. Louis on Sunday. The total is set at 49 1/2.