TEMPE, Ariz. -- Larry Fitzgerald has stuck to the plan all week.
Sore and beat up after being targeted 18 times in last week's win over the San Francisco 49ers, the Arizona Cardinals wide receiver had Wednesday off to heal a bruised ankle and knee but returned to practice in full Thursday.
"I'll do it again tomorrow and be ready to go on Sunday" against his hometown Minnesota Vikings, Fitzgerald said. "That was the plan from the beginning. Everybody's got something right now."
Fitzgerald was one of three players who were upgraded Thursday. Alex Okafor (knee/calf) returned to practice in limited form, and fellow linebacker Joplo Bartu (hamstring) was upgraded from limited to full. Linebacker Chandler Jones and quarterback Carson Palmer both practiced Thursday after not doing so Wednesday -- Jones for a family reason and Palmer for a veteran day off.
Cornerback Tharold Simon missed Thursday's practice with an ankle injury after being listed as limited Wednesday.
Safety Deone Bucannon (ankle) and defensive tackle Corey Peters (foot) didn't practice for a second straight day. Linebacker Gabe Martin (hamstring/knee) and safety Tyrann Mathieu (shoulder) were limited. Cornerback Justin Bethel (foot/wrist) and cornerback Brandon Williams (finger) were both full participants in practice.
