It's Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin, who grabbed at his hamstring Saturday at the end of his 71-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Boldin, who missed the second half of the Cardinals win over Atlanta, wasn't available to the media Sunday, but there will likely be an update after the Cardinals practice this afternoon.An absent Boldin clearly would hurt Arizona in Charlotte this Saturday. He is among the league's most dangerous possession receivers, and as he showed Saturday, he has long been capable of significant yards after the catch.
"He can run the ball and do so many different things," Offensive coordinator Todd Haley told the Arizona Republic. "Now a large chunk of your game plan is gone."
Yet, Arizona has managed well without Boldin this year. The wide receiver missed two games with a facial fracture after a brutal helmet-to-helmet collision against the New York Jets in Week 5. Arizona won both - against Buffalo and Dallas -thanks to in large part to receiver Steve Breaston, who had 15 catches for 179 yards and a touchdown in starting those two games.
Boldin also sat out the final two games of the season with a shoulder injury - a 47-7 loss at New England and 34-21 win in Seattle. Breaston had five catches for 91 yards and a score in the win.
Breaston is more of a burner than Boldin, but with top receiver Larry Fitzgerald and reserve Jerheme Urban, the Cardinals still would have a potent and diverse passing attack Saturday.
We'll bring news as we get it.
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You hear it first here...Anquan Boldin WILL play. Just his presense on the field creates a matchup problem. Plus, with Gamble and Lucas (especially Lucas) being suspect over the last 6 games at CB, you better believe Arizona will do whatever it can to get Boldin on the field.
ReplyDeleteIn all honesty, I hope he plays. This is the playoffs boys and girls...if you can't bring your A game, you deserve to go home, and that includes the Panthers.
I want to see both teams healthy and laying it all on the field. That way, we can REALLY see what we've got. Do we have a special team this year or just another teaser? There's no point to play the game if Arizona is coming in at 50% where the Panthers will be at 100%.
Everyone is saying THIS is our year...well if it really is, we better BRING IT this Saturday at BofA!
The Panthers have injuries too, idiot. I've got an idea, let's just cancel the game since both teams "won't be at 100%"
ReplyDeleteAnquan Boldin is one if not the toughest receiver in the league, who else would get there jaw fractured, 60 or so pins in face, and play football 3 weeks later?? Seriously, if you think he's not playing--you're crazy. Saying that, I hope he does play and is a little held back from it. I would rather play him at 85% than Breaston at 100%
ReplyDeletePlay or no play, the Cardinals beat a good Atlanta team this weekend. The Panther's better show up and play 4 quarters, none of this slack defence in the 2nd half just because we have (had) the lead in the last 2 games.
ReplyDeleteThe Cards beat a young Falcons team in front of a home crowd that hadn't seen a playoff game, well, ever. Not all that impressive. Boldin will play, but I doubt he'll be 100%.
ReplyDeleteAnd there's a big difference between rattling a rookie QB in his first playoff game (i.e., Matt Ryan) and trying to do the same thing in the opponent's stadium for a QB with a 5-2 playoff record (i.e., Jake Delhomme). If the Cardinals can repeat their performance from their last game, then they deserve a shot at the NFC championship. But the Panthers are very hungry for it, too. Should be a good game...
ReplyDeleteIt's going to be a tough game, you have to remember they came out here earlier in the year and jumped on us early. We made some big plays to take the game, but they were in control for most of the game. Atlanta was playing very good football when they went into AZ!! Don't get to cocky.
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