The Arizona Cardinals suffered three key injuries during their 33-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. Wide receiver Anquan Boldin, cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie and defensive end Calais Campbell all left the contest and are in varying degrees of disrepair heading into the teams’ wild card matchup.
Boldin, who recorded 84 receptions for 1,024 yards this season, is the most significant injury and most unlikely to play. Boldin, who has a sprained ankle, was relegated to riding a stationary bike during Wednesday’s practice. ESPN’s Adam Schefter indicated that the Cardinals are not optimistic that Boldin will play.
Although he played with a sprained ankle during the season, if Boldin is out or limited, it could drastically change the complexion of the game. Without Boldin, or with him at less than 100 percent, the Cardinals lose their biggest strength – the best three-receiver set in the NFL. The Packers can also protect their biggest weakness – Jarrett Bush.
Regardless of whether Boldin plays, Charles Woodson will cover Larry Fitzgerald. Without Boldin, the Packers can move Tramon Williams to cover Steve Breaston, the Cardinals third receiver, which is at worst an even matchup and at best, advantage Packers. If Boldin is close to 100 percent by Sunday, Bush will be forced to cover Breaston, and that most certainly will provide the Cardinals with an advantage.
Campbell, who recorded seven sacks this season, fractured his thumb on Sunday. He had surgery on Monday and the Cardinals hope Campbell can play with a cast this week.
Rodgers-Cromartie, the Cardinals Pro Bowl cornerback, bruised his knee on Sunday, but is confident he’ll play against the Packers despite not feeling any better.
If Rodgers-Cromartie can’t go, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers will get another chance to pick on his backup, Michael Adams, who struggled mightily on Sunday. In addition to committing three penalties on Sunday, Adams was also burned by Jordy Nelson for a 51-yard reception.
Being without Boldin or Rodgers-Cromartie will seriously hinder the Cardinals chances on Sunday and being without Campbell certainly wouldn’t help anything. The Packers could very realistically be looking at another double-digit blowout of the Cardinals.
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Last updated on March 7th, 2011 at 05:49 pm
“Without Boldin, the Packers can move Tramon Williams to cover Steve Breaston, the Cardinals third receiver, which is at worst an even matchup and at best, advantage Packers.” Wow. You are one of many people out there that have no idea how good Breaston is – and this also shows how little about AZ you really know, just like 99% of the sports fans in country. He’s as good as any of the Packer’s WRs… Your analysis is dead wrong. That is why the public thinks the Cards are gonna lose, when in reality they have all the tools to beat the Pack, with or without Boldin.
I know how good Breatson is. I’m a Michigan fan and I watched him play for four years, not to mention I’ve repeatedly said the Cards have the best three-receiver set in the NFL. You just know nothing about the Packers and Tramon Williams.