Both the Arizona Republic and AzCardinals.com believe Rashard Mendenhall (toe) could play on Sunday without practicing this week.

The Cards have maintained radio silence on Mendenhall's status, which usually isn't a good thing. Arizona would go with a committee against the Saints were Mendenhall to sit, with Andre Ellington likely to be the chairman. He'd be little more than a desperation FLEX play for fantasy purposes.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) missed his second straight practice Thursday.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) did not practice Wednesday.

It's a new injury for Mendenhall; he battled hamstring and knee issues the first two weeks of the season. He was limited to riding the stationary bike on the sidelines Wednesday. Mendenhall's status is up in the air for Sunday.

Rashard Mendenhall rushed 15 times for 66 yards and a touchdown and caught two passes for 28 yards in the Cardinals' Week 2 win versus Detroit.

He's at 126 yards on 31 carries (4.06 YPC) through two games, which is at or better than the rushing efficiency level we expect from Mendenhall. Just a flex option, Mendenhall does get a matchup boost in Week 3 against a weak Saints defense missing NT Brodrick Bunkley. The Cardinals are using him as a clear feature runner and their other backs as change-of-pace complements.

Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring, probable) practiced in full Friday.

Mendenhall will be the Cardinals' lead back in Week 2 against Detroit.

Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring) remained limited in Thursday's practice.

He's fully expected to play against the Lions. Healthy or not, Mendenhall is a blas‚ FLEX play.

Rashard Mendenhall (hamstring) was a limited participant in Wednesday's practice.

Mendenhall is over his knee issue, but he's now dealing with a hamstring injury. It's not a major concern. Mendenhall shouldn't be in any jeopardy of missing Sunday's game against the Lions.

Rashard Mendenhall rushed 16 times for 60 yards in Arizona's Week 1 loss to the Rams, adding one catch for four yards.

Mendenhall looked healthy, but found himself in a veritable timeshare with middling talent Alfonso Smith, out-touching him just 17-10. Mendenhall drew seven second-half carries to Smith's six. Mendenhall has a firm grip on starting duties, but coach Bruce Arians appears perfectly content using a committee. Mendy's a low-end FLEX play.

Rashard Mendenhall (knee) returned to a full practice Friday and is listed as probable for Week 1 at St. Louis.

He'll be all systems go. The Cardinals intend to use Alfonso Smith and Stepfan Taylor as spot backs behind Mendenhall. Mendenhall is a weak flex play.

Rashard Mendenhall (knee) remained limited on Thursday.

The Cardinals are just managing Mendenhall's reps, as coach Bruce Arians declared him "more than ready" on Wednesday. Running behind the Cardinals' terrible offensive line against the Rams' stout front seven, Mendenhall is an uninspiring FLEX play for Week 1.

Rashard Mendenhall (knee) was limited in Wednesday's practice.

Mendenhall is "more than ready," according to coach Bruce Arians. We wouldn't expect the Cardinals' woeful offensive line to open many holes against a Rams defense that 15th against the run last season. Mendenhall will be a weak flex play.

Coach Bruce Arians confirmed Rashard Mendenhall's (knee) absence from Monday's practice is not a concern for his Week 1 availability.

He'll resume practicing on Wednesday. "I did not let him go today, but he's more than ready," Arians said. "And Ryan (Williams) is full speed, so we're fully healthy at running back." Mendenhall will start Sunday's opener against the Rams. It's not yet clear who'll be his primary backup; Williams or rookie Stepfan Taylor. We suspect it'll be Williams, but that hasn't been announced.

Rashard Mendenhall (knee) was held out of Cardinals practice Monday.

Teams don't have to issue injury reports until Wednesday, aside from the teams playing on Thursday night. Mendenhall is expected to be ready for Week 1, so perhaps the Cardinals were just giving him an extra day of rest. His injury is said to be a "minor" right knee sprain, and he's considered day to day.

Rashard Mendenhall (knee) is expected to be "fine" for Week 1.

Mendenhall did not do any structural damage his troublesome right knee Saturday night. It was just another case of the joint giving him problems, something it's done ever since he's returned from his ACL tear. Combine that with the Cardinals' woes in run-blocking, and Mendenhall is shaping up as one of fantasy's most overrated assets on draft day.

The Cardinals are calling Rashard Mendenhall "day to day" with his minor right knee sprain.

They sound optimistic about Mendenhall starting Week 1 against the Rams. Coach Bruce Arians ruled out Mendenhall for the exhibition finale, in which Ryan Williams will handle the bulk of the work. Mendenhall's fantasy Average Draft Position is still in the middle of round six, where he is very poor value. We wouldn't even consider drafting Mendenhall before the eighth round.

CBS Sports' Jason La Canfora reports Rashard Mendenhall's right knee injury is a "minor sprain," and he is expected back for Week 1.

It's good news, but the fact Mendenhall admitted to feeling "looseness" in the joint following Saturday night's injury is a reminder that his knee may lack long-term stability. The Cardinals' placement of Ryan Williams on the trade block does indicate they have faith in Mendenhall's health. In a pass-first offense behind one of the league's poorest lines -- and one that just lost LG Jonathan Cooper likely for the season -- we couldn't recommend against drafting Mendenhall more strongly. He's not going to help your fantasy team.

Coach Bruce Arians said Rashard Mendenhall felt "looseness" in his right knee Saturday night.

Mendenhall was forced out of the game and is awaiting the results of an MRI. Note that the right knee is the same one that he blew out while playing for the Steelers in January of 2012. Mendy has also missed practice time this month due to tendinitis in that joint. Ryan Williams, Stepfan Taylor, Andre Ellington and Alfonso Smith are all competing to be the Cardinals' No. 2 back.

Rashard Mendenhall left Saturday's preseason game with a right knee injury.

Mendenhall suffered the injury in the first-half and was unable to return. He had been running well prior to getting hurt, racking up 47 yards on just six carries. The severity of the setback isn't yet known, but Mendenhall was seen walking around on the sideline. The Cardinals should provide an update on his status after the game.

Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 32 yards on seven carries in Saturday's preseason game against the Cowboys.

It was his first action of the preseason after missing last week's game with knee tendinitis. He was bottled up in the backfield on his first carry, but did show some nice burst on an 11-yard run shortly thereafter. Mendenhall was also targeted once in the passing game in the red zone, but Carson Palmer threw the ball at his feet. Mendenhall is Rotoworld's No. 33 running back.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians doesn't believe a top-15 rushing attack is essential to the team's offensive success.

Arians sounds like a man who's realistic about his personnel. "Nah, just run the ball well when we want to run it," Arians said. "We want to be balanced, but I don't put numbers on it. . Statistics and running games, I don't buy into it. Just run it when we need to run it and run it well." Arians certainly espoused that philosophy in Pittsburgh and Indianapolis. The Cardinals' rushing "attack" is going to be a dirge for fantasy purposes.