Quarterbacks Ryan Lindley (left) and Logan Thomas (center) talk with coach Bruce Arians during last weekend's game against Seattle.
Larry Fitzgerald knows about playing with multiple quarterbacks.
In 2010 and 2012, the Cardinals started four different men behind center. This season, there have been three, although the chance at four looks like it might have had a Christmas derailment. Regardless, the Cardinals wide receiver knows he and the rest of the offense have to make the best of whoever is throwing the ball Sunday in San Francisco.
"It's kind of old hat for me," Fitzgerald said Christmas evening, after the Cardinals held a late afternoon practice. "If this
was the first time around it might be surprising. But I've gone through it multiple times. I kind of just go with the flow and instill as much confidence as I possibly can in that person who is throwing the football."
That person looked like it would be rookie Logan Thomas – who would have been the Cardinals' fourth starter at quarterback this season – but the Arizona Republic reported Thursday the Cards have decided instead to stick with Ryan Lindley for a second straight start while Drew Stanton deals with a knee injury.
Coach Bruce Arians does not meet with the media Thursdays. None of the quarterbacks were available, and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin, asked if he had a comment on the Lindley-as-starter report, said "not really."
"Guess we'll see what happens on Sunday," Goodwin said.
Using multiple starting quarterbacks isn't ideal, Goodwin acknowledged.
"Week to week, different quarterback, do you like it? No," Goodwin said. "But it is what it is."
Arians left himself a lot of wiggle room Monday when he first said he was thinking about starting Thomas at quarterback. He said he would have a "quick hook" on Thomas in the game if Thomas struggled, and then when he was asked what he would do if Thomas struggled in practice this week, Arians said "that's the first hook."
Arians then said Wednesday Thomas opened "shaky" at practice, but didn't give any indication he was thinking about going right back to Lindley. Arians will meet with the media Friday. Stanton did not practice for a second straight day, after Arians had been hopeful he would have practiced some this week.
"It's been a situation I've never been a part of in 11 (NFL) years, playing four quarterbacks," Goodwin said. "But we have confidence in all our guys. At the end of the day, there are 10 other guys on the field and we have to help the quarterback."
Whoever that might be.
DAN WILLIAMS ADDED TO INJURY LIST
Defensive tackle Dan Williams (foot) was added to the injury list as a DNP, although the Cardinals did upgrade safety Deone Bucannon (knee) and tight end John Carlson (calf) to limited. Linebacker Lorenzo Alexander (knee), safety Rashad Johnson (ankle), guard Ted Larsen (shoulder) and linebacker Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder) were upgraded to full practice.
Stanton and linebacker Larry Foote (knee) still were DNP. Wide receiver Jaron Brown (foot), guard Jonathan Cooper (wrist) and defensive end Calais Campbell (hip) remained limited.
The 49ers did not practice Thursday, but were required to file an injury report as if they did. On that report, seven players were DNP: guard Alex Boone (knee), cornerback Perrish Cox (shoulder), running back Carlos Hyde (ankle), wide receiver Steve Johnson (knee), safety Eric Reid (concussion), defensive end Justin Smith (back) and safety Raymond Ventrone (groin). Center Marcus Martin (illness), cornerback Tremaine Brock (hamstring), linebacker Ahmad Brooks (thumb), cornerback Chris Culliver (knee) and wide receiver Bruce Ellington (hamstring) were called limited.
