Fitzgerald out 2-5 weeks
The struggling Arizona Cardinals lost Pro Bowl receiver Larry Fitzgerald for perhaps a month or more with a hamstring injury.
“I’d say it will be at least two weeks, two-to-five maybe, two-to-four, it’s hard to say,” coach Dennis Green said at his Monday news conference. “It’s a real strong pull, maybe even a slight tear in there also.”
Two other starters – guard Milford Brown and nose tackle Kendrick Clancy – injured ankles in Sunday’s 23-20 home loss to Kansas City and might not play when the Cardinals, losers of four in a row, play host to the unbeaten Chicago Bears next Monday night.
Fitzgerald was hurt in the first quarter Sunday, shortly after catching a touchdown pass from Matt Leinart.
“I was trying to crack back on a guy, and he just kind of moved out of the way at the last minute,” Fitzgerald said after the game. “When I was lunging, he wasn’t there. I felt it pop on me.”
Fitzgerald has 25 catches for 336 yards and two touchdowns. Last season, his second in the NFL, he caught 103 passes, tied with Steve Smith for most in the NFL. He and Anquan Boldin combined for 205 catches, most for any teammates in league history.
Green said Carlyle Holiday, a quarterback-turned-receiver at Notre Dame, would move up from the practice squad.
“He’s been with us two years and had a good training camp,” Green said. “I think he’s ready to play and help us. We’ll decide who the starter is and who the third and fourth receivers are over the next couple of days.”
The injury also means more playing time for Troy Walters, the seven-year NFL veteran who was the team’s No. 4 receiver behind Boldin, Fitzgerald and Bryant Johnson.
Henry starts suspension
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry was in the locker room but barred from the practice field, the start of his two-game suspension for violating NFL policies on conduct and substance abuse.
Henry is the second Bengals player suspended by the league. Middle linebacker Odell Thurman was suspended for the season after he was arrested on a drunken driving charge Sept. 25.
In all, six Bengals players have been arrested this year on various charges.
The NFL suspended Henry without pay and fined him an additional $20,000 on Friday, when the team had a three-day weekend for its bye. Henry’s salary is $350,000, so the punishment will cost him roughly $60,000.
Thurman, another second-year player, was suspended for the first four games after missing a drug test.
Henry has been arrested four times since December. He has pleaded guilty to marijuana possession and a gun charge, and has two other cases pending that could bring jail time or additional punishment.
Henry is allowed to attend team meetings and work out individually at Paul Brown Stadium during his two-game suspension, but can’t practice or play against Tampa Bay or Carolina.
Around the league
Jeremy Shockey of the New York Giants underwent a test near his right ankle and had another scheduled for today. Shockey was forced off the field in a 19-3 win over Washington with what was described as a foot injury. X-rays after the game did not reveal any broken bones. … Jacksonville Jaguars linebacker Mike Peterson, the team’s top tackler the last three years, tore a pectoral muscle in the 41-0 victory against the New York Jets and is out for the season. … Panthers rookie running back and kick returner DeAngelo Williams has a sprained – not broken – right ankle. Coach John Fox said he wouldn’t know Williams’ status for Sunday’s game at Baltimore until an injury report is released. … Chiefs kick returner Dante Hall has a hip injury and his status is uncertain for this week’s game at Pittsburgh. He was hurt while running back a kickoff during the 23-20 victory at Arizona. … Bills rookie defensive tackle John McCargo is out indefinitely after surgery to repair a broken left foot. … Chargers practice squad cornerback Markus Curry was released by the team, just hours after he was arrested on suspicion of committing domestic violence. … Tennessee defensive tackle Randy Starks‘ court appearance on a charge of domestic assault was rescheduled for Nov. 14.