Skip navigation

Cardinals' Boldin says he’s likely to play Sunday

Half of NFL's most dangerous WR combination didn't play against Panthers

Image: Warner, Boldin talk
Matt York / AP
Cardinals wide receiver Anquan Boldin (81) and quarterback Kurt Warner (13) talk during drills Wednesday.
Video
  King's Notebook: Week 11
Nov. 22: Dan Patrick and Peter King break down the wild finish in Detroit, highlighting the clutch play of Matthew Stafford and the decision making of Eric Mangini.

NBC Sports

Slideshow
Denver Broncos v Washington Redskins
  Sideline support
Check out some of the NFL cheerleaders from across the league.

more photos

Slideshow
Arizona Cardinals v Philadelphia Eagles
  A high-flying rematch
The Eagles crushed the Cardinals, 48-20, during a Week 13 matchup. Can Arizona win the rematch at home?

NBC Sports

  Playoff matchups
Compare the NFL teams, then vote on which has the edge
updated 4:14 p.m. ET Jan. 16, 2009

TEMPE, Ariz. - After missing a playoff game with an injured hamstring, Arizona wide receiver Anquan Boldin said he expects to play in the NFC championship against Philadelphia on Sunday

“I’m feeling good,” Boldin said after practice Friday. “I’ve been able to practice all week, so if nothing else happens at this point, I’ll be out on the field.”

Boldin, who with Larry Fitzgerald forms possibly the best receiving tandem in football, said a trip to a Dallas chiropractor this week greatly improved his strained left hamstring. The injury kept Boldin out of the Cardinals’ 33-13 victory at Carolina in Saturday’s divisional playoff game.

Story continues below ↓
advertisement | your ad here

Boldin has practiced each of the last three days, and he said he should be able to run all his normal pass routes Sunday.

“For me, it isn’t a problem either way right now,” Boldin said. “It’s not grabbing, so I don’t have any problem with it. I’m able to run short and deep routes.”

Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said he didn’t know how the hamstring might limit Boldin against the Eagles.

“I think we’ll get a better feel as the game goes on,” Whisenhunt said. “I expect him to be in the game. We’ll see how it goes, how he gets involved with the flow of the game. Obviously, we’ll give him as much as he can handle.”

Boldin injured his hamstring on a 71-yard touchdown pass from Kurt Warner in the second quarter of Arizona’s 30-24 wild-card victory over Atlanta on Jan. 3. Boldin caught 89 passes for 1,038 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season despite missing four games with injuries.

Warner said Boldin hasn’t been slowed in practice this week.

“I’m sure only Anquan knows how good he feels,” Warner said. “But at least he’s been running around. You haven’t noticed any discrepancy in the way he’s running or the way he’s pushing himself, and so we’re excited about that because he obviously adds another dimension to our football team and another weapon and a go-to guy.”

Video
  Warner's ready
Jan. 17: Kurt Warner says the Cardinals can handle the variety of defensive looks the Eagles will likely throw at them in the NFC title game.

NBC Sports

For Philadelphia, running back Brian Westbrook, who has a knee injury, practiced Friday for the first time in three days and is expected to play.

Westbrook said he tweaked the knee in last week’s divisional playoff victory over the New York Giants but that it “just feels good.

“I don’t know what it is,” Westbrook said after practice Friday. “I just feel good right now.”

Offensive tackle Jon Runyan, who also has a knee injury, didn’t practice all week but is likely to play. Runyan has played in 212 consecutive games, including the playoffs.

Eagles safety Brian Dawkins, who has a back injury, also participated fully in practice for the second consecutive day.

© 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Sponsored links