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Larry Fitzgerald Knows What's Coming

Notebook: Receiver downplays his one-reception opener; Ellington remains sidelined

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Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald had one reception in the Cardinals' first game.


Larry Fitzgerald might not have known he'd have only one reception in the season opener, but he wasn't blindsided either.

The Pro Bowler said that all the receivers know each week how the game plan fits them and about how much work they could get. So, Fitzgerald was asked, does that mean you had an inkling going into the Chargers game what might happen?

"You know every week what's going on," Fitzgerald answered.

The veteran handled his weekly media scrum with his characteristic cool, deflecting much of the talk about his one-catch,

four-target game toward the Cardinals' win, and also touching on his father’s tweet blaming “politics and business” for Fitzgerald's low production. Fitzgerald acknowledged having to deal with his family's wayward social media messages in the past.

"It's not my first time and I assume it probably won't be my last," Fitzgerald said. "I'm a man, and what comes from my mouth comes from my mouth and what comes from other people's mouth comes from their mouth. If you don't hear it from the horse's mouth, it's not accurate."

Fitzgerald just said he comes to work every day, gets the offensive game plan, and works to execute that plan. That, he said, is his job.

"Everybody's a little bit different, especially the receiver position, but Larry doesn't care about anything other than the scoreboard," quarterback Carson Palmer said. "He's not worried about a stat or a target or whatever you want to call it."

Fitzgerald said the Chargers didn't do anything out of the ordinary defensively. He also refused to say his sore knee – which had him on the injury report before the San Diego game – played a role.

Coach Bruce Arians, however, said Fitzgerald's knee did play a part in how Fitzgerald was used, particularly in the multiple

third-down situations Fitzgerald surprisingly was not on the field.

"I learned my lesson last year not to ask him things to do in a game that you're not practicing," Arians said.

"There were times when certain guys want numbers," Arians added. "I think Larry will be the first one to tell you the only number that matters is a 'W.' That's a letter, though."

Fitzgerald may know how the gameplan will unfold this week and his place in it, but he isn't saying. No reason to tip off the Giants, he said. He laughed when he was told former teammate and current Giants safety Antrel Rolle said he loved the idea of Fitzgerald catching only one pass Sunday.

"I witnessed his greatness at work for five years there in Arizona," Rolle said. "If he catches one pass, that'll be all right with me."

For all his comments about winning, though, another one-catch game probably wouldn't sit all that well with Fitzgerald. He's now up to 150 straight games with a catch, and said while it's a nice streak, he doesn't want to get just one catch a game just to keep it alive. Sixteen receptions for a season is clearly un-Fitz-like.

"That would be discouraging," Fitzgerald said, grinning. "That (salary) cap number would be REAL big at the end of the year."

ELLINGTON REMAINS SIDELINED

The only change on the Cardinals' injury report Thursday was safety Rashad Johnson (ankle) being upgraded to a full practice. That means running back Andre Ellington (foot) remained out as the Cardinals move closer to Sunday's game in New York. Linebacker Alex Okafor (thigh) and defensive end Frostee Rucker (calf) also did not practice for a second straight day.

Palmer (right shoulder) remains limited, although at this point the quarterback should play. Guard Paul Fanaika (knee) and punter Dave Zastudil (groin) were also limited.

Safety Tyrann Mathieu (knee) continues to practiced fully but his status for Sunday is still vague.

For the Giants, defensive tackle Cullen Jenkins (hip) was upgraded to limited, but linebacker Jon Beason (foot) was downgraded to not practicing. He joined five other Giants who sat out: receiver Odell Beckham (hamstring), tackle James Brewer (back), linebacker Devon Kennard (hamstring), defensive tackle Markus Kuhn (ankle) and punter Steve Weatherford  (ankle).

Tackle Charles Brown (shoulder) was also limited.

Images of past matchups between the Cardinals and this week's opponent, the New York Giants


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