Tight end Ben Patrick practiced Friday. So, unlike last week, the Cardinals should be in good shape at the tight end spot at St. Louis.
They’ll have three in Patrick, Jerame Tuman and recent acquisition Stephen Spach. Leonard Pope, the usual starter, remains out with an ankle injury. Otherwise, the Cardinals seem healthy…
Tim Hightower got snaps with both the first and second teams Friday…
The Cardinals have had few 3-and-out situations this season. Ken Whisenhunt was reluctant to talk about this, joking, “ I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that it may jinx us in the future.”…
The Cardinals have been working on their tackling technique this week in hopes of improving from the Carolina game, when poor tackling helped cost them the game…
Matt Leinart hooked up on a long pass in practice with Early Doucet. No. 3 quarterback Brian St. Pierre did the same with Jerheme Urban.

Hard to believe the Cardinals are in charge of their own destiny.

We’ll see how they handle this unfamiliar territory with three straight games vs. division opponents…

Looks like Leonard Pope’s foot injury will keep him out another week, at least. The Cardinals, it should be noted, are more apt to run a little more when they have all their tight ends available…

The Cardinals had a bit of a skirmish toward the end of their practice, according to players. Antonio Smith, who was involved, called it a “practice rumble.” It didn’t seem a big deal.

Tim Hightower seems to be ready to handle more of a workload at running back, coach Ken Whisenhunt indicated Monday.

He didn’t come out and say Hightower would become the starter, saying only that such decisions are a “process.”

But the speculation will continue based on Hightower’s growth and the struggles of Edgerrin James on Sunay at Carolina.

James had little to say on the matter, other than, “It was headed in that direction anyway.” He hinted he has been set up to fail, though he didn’t elaborate.

James came into 2008 needing a solid season to move up to No. 7 or No. 8 all time in rushing, a feat that would give him strong Hall of Fame consideration. But that’s looking more like a longshot now…

The Cardinals expressed surprise that the Panthers played the run Sunday, even as they continued to pass successfully…

No injuries were reported other than safety Aaron Francisco having to come out of the game at times because of an ankle injury.

Anquan Boldin, as expected, is active for today’s game in sunny Charlotte. So is linebacker Travis LaBoy.

But the Cardinals will be without their top two tight ends, as Leonard Pope (ankle) and Ben Patrick (knee) are out. The tight end spot will be handled by Jerame Tuman.

Other inactive players are Brian St. Pierre (the third quarterback), plus safety Oliver Celestin, tackles Elliot Vallejo and Brandon Keith, defensive end Kenny Iwebema and, as usual, nose tackle Alan Branch.

For the Panthers, starting offensive linemen Ryan Kalil and Jeff Otah are injured and inactive.

Looks like Anquan Boldin is a go to play Sunday.
“We’ll see how ‘Q’ feels when we get to Carolina,” coach Ken Whisenhunt said.
“It looks good. He’s had a good week of practice. He’s done just about everything.”
At the same time, “I don’t want to say for sure that he’s going to play until we actually travel there.”
Boldin had the same outlook: I’m feeling good. I hope nothing changes until game time.”
The other Cardinals’ injured players – linebacker Travis LaBoy, safety Aaron Francisco and tight end Ben Patrick — all practiced, on at least a limited basis, except tight end Leonard Pope. He suffered a foot injury in a practice before the game at the New York Jets.

If this is close to others’ perceptions, then Sunday’s game in Charlotte is certainly a marquee affair.
Coach Ken Whisenhunt pointed out today that the Cardinals are in the same position they were earlier this season: After winning two straight, they’re heading East. Since this is their second trip across the country, he figures they should be prepared.
They’ll follow the usual routine of flying out on Sunday…
Anquan Boldin looks and sounds like a guy who will play, though he’s not making any commitments just yet.
Former teammate Josh McCown, now the Panthers’ No. 2 quarterback, virtually guaranteed Boldin will play in a conversation with starter Jake Delhomme, according to Delhomme.
McCown and Boldin are friends and have been talking, Boldin said.
Boldin had the wires removed from his mouth. He’s cleared to play, as long as he continues to make progress, Whisenhunt indicated. Players who didn’t practice Wednesday because of injuries include linebacker Travis LaBoy, tight ends Leonard Pope and Ben Patrick and safety Aaron Francisco.

The off week gives the Cardinals and their fans time to put things in perspective.
Yes, their 4-2 start has gone about as well as reasonably possible. They’ve had only one bad game, at the New York Jets, and three good ones: home wins over Miami, Buffalo and Dallas.
That last one, though, doesn’t look as big as it did at the time. The Cowboys, to me, seem like an average team, with an average coach, an average owner, etc. This is a team the Cardinals SHOULD have beaten.
What’s weird is that in just two weeks time, the NFC West has flipped to the point where the Rams, not the Seahawks, appear to be their main competition. The Cardinals have a 2-game lead over them and still have two games left with them…
The Cardinals should be back to full strength, or close to it. Anquan Boldin is starting to practice more fully. He’s hoping to get medical clearance to play at Carolina on Sunday.

So many thrills. So many weird plays.
With the bye week here, the Cardinals have a chance to enjoy a few days basking in local and national adulation for their huge win over the Cowboys Sunday.
They also could reflect on how they had to overcome all the calls and weird plays.
Some points on what happened in the final few seconds of regulation:
– Travis LaBoy should have gotten off the field rather than try to limp back to the Cardinals’ defense as the Cowboys spiked the ball. Either that, or the Cardinals should have called timeout just before the spike.
– Instead, he was called for being offside. And that moved the ball five precious yards closer for the Cowboys, allowing them to try a 52-yard field goal, which they barely made to send the game into overtime.
LaBoy could have gone down on the field as an injured player, but then officials would have stopped the clock with about a dozen seconds left.\
– The time out called by Ken Whisenhunt just before the Cowboy kicker booted the ball into the line didn’t matter at all. The kicker knew the time out had been called.
– The “tuck rule” isn’t supposed to apply when a quarterback is simply trying to avoid a sack. Which is what seemed to have happened when Tony Romo fumbled in his own end zone for an apparent Cardinals’ touchdown. The tuck rule, methinks, is a way to bail out a team that fumbled and protect the officials at the same time.
…The Cardinals came out of the game healthy. Travis LaBoy is having that sore groin checked out. A couple other players came up with bumps and bruises, but that’s about it.
They hope to be at full strength, including having Anquan Boldin back, when they visit Carolina in two weeks…
They are expected to practice Wednesday this week, but that probably will be it.
…See you next week.

…Plus Anquan Boldin and Ben Patrick who are injured.

Others are Brian St. Pierre, the third quarterback, plus safety Oliver Celestin, fullback Tim Castille, tackle Elliot Vallejo, tackle Brandon Keith and defensive tackle Alan Branch (who appears more and more to be one of hte 2007 draft busts).

For the Cowboys, inactives include injured stars Roy Williams and Terence Newman, key members of the Dallas secondary, plus backup safety Patrick Watkins, injured guard Kyle Kosier (the former ASU standout), guard Joe Berger, tackle Doug Free and receiver Isaiah Stanback.

Adrian Wilson says he won’t change.
Wilson has been fined $25,000 for his hit last week on the Bills’ Trent Edwards. He’s also been warned that another offense could result in a $50,000 fine and a 1-game suspension.
Asked if he would change the way he played, his response was an immediate, “No.”
Wilson said he’ll appeal the fine, but was realistic about this.
“It’s kind of hard to appeal something when you’ve got 15 personal fouls in your career, and numerous fines for hits like that. It’s kind of the reputation.”
Wilson was subject to fines twice last season.
A personal observation: You have to wonder whether all of Wilson’s questionable plays will:
A) End up injuring himself.
B) Keep him from being considered a Hall of Fame caliber player.
If he can keep himself under control, he’s arguably the team’s best player.
…Anquan Boldin, as expected, is out this week. Ben Patrick is doubtful.
But the other injured Cardinals, including Wilson, cornerbacks Rod Hood and Eric Green, should play. Bertrand Berry should return to action this week…
The Cardinals get a break as four Cowboys are out, including cornerback Terence Newman and safety Roy Williams. Also out are guard Kyle Kosier and safety Patrick Watkins.