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In the wake of Thursday's practice, it appears the Cardinals will only have three healthy wide receivers available for Sunday's game against the Seahawks. Bryan Gilmore, Larry Foster and Kevin Kasper were unable to hit the field today, leaving only Jason McAddley, Bryant Johnson and Anquan Boldin.

McAddley was faced with similar circumstances last year when injuries thrust him into a starting role for the home game against the Seattle. McAddley started the game with a 47-yard gain on a flea flicker and posted his first 100-yard receiving day.

"Seattle was the first game I started last year and I was real focused and they really fed the ball to me," McAddley recalled. "But, Seattle is going to be a challenge. They’ve got a good defense and a pretty good offense. A lot of people are saying things about our receiver situation going into this game, but even before the season everyone thought that was the weakness of our team.

"Right now we are leading the league in passing yards and and we have a leading receiver in the league. We know what we can do and we know we can go out there and compete with anyone in the league."

And of course, Boldin -- the kind of strong, angular player who gives the quarterback a great target -- is the above-reference league leading receiver.

However, Boldin, who came into last week's game as the third receiver and caught 10 passes for 217 yards, won't be lost in the crowd any longer. Foes now have tape of him. And if he has to be the primary receiver along with two unknowns in fellow rookie Bryant and McAddley, opponents will have plans to thwart Boldin.

I'll note at this point that Pro Football Weekly, citing team sources, reported earlier this week that coaches -- who picked up on Boldin's skills early on -- might have intentionally scaled back the second-round draft pick's preseason playing time in order to keep him under wraps.

Whatever the case. ... The Sports XChange notes that one ray of hope for the Cardinals is that New Orleans, Seattle's opening-day opponent, passed effectively -- nearly 62 percent completions for 256 yards among 359 total yards while holding the ball more than 34 minutes.

Add to that injuries to two key Seattle defenders - cornerback Shawn Springs (shoulder) and linebacker Isaiah Kacyvenski (ankle) -- and the Cards could have a chance in the oppressive heat. ...

Getting back to Boldin. ...

In an article published Monday, Sports Illustrated insider Don Banks reminded readers that the NFL Scouting Combine in February, Boldin was this year's poster child for the debate that rages every winter in Indianapolis: What's more important, how you run in the Combine's crucial 40-yard dash testing, in your underwear, or your speed in pads in actual game conditions?

And as Banks put it: "Score another one for September trumping February."

Considered a low first-round pick going into the Combine, the 6-1, 218-pound Boldin's stock plummeted after running a slower than expected 4.75 in Indy. He did better at Florida State's pro workout day in the spring, posting a 4.58 on a traditionally fast track, but come draft weekend he still lasted until Arizona took him near the top of the second round.

One NFL scout explained it like this: "Jerry Rice didn't run fast on a track either. But then you put the game film on and he was running by people. That's what you had to do in a case like Boldin, watch more film. ...''

And finally. ...SI senior writer Peter King wrote on Monday: "I think Cardinals QB Jeff Blake must have been talking about rookie wideout Anquan Boldin when he told me in camp: 'I've got 100 catches for someone. I just don't know who it'll be yet.' Boldin is 90 away after his 10 catches in the opener in Detroit."

And Boldin's name continues to burn up waiver wires across Fantasy nation.