Fansided

Cardinals RB Rashard Mendenhall not playing against Falcons

By Mike Dyce

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Oct 13, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) rushes during the third quarter in a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. San Francisco 49ers won 32-20. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 13, 2013; San Francisco, CA, USA; Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall (28) rushes during the third quarter in a game against the San Francisco 49ers at Candlestick Park. San Francisco 49ers won 32-20. Mandatory Credit: Bob Stanton-USA TODAY Sports /

Arizona Cardinals running back Rashard Mendenhall will not play against the Atlanta Falcons Sunday. Mendenhall is battling a turf toe injury. Instead, Andre Ellington will start in his place. This doesn’t come as too much of a surprise, we had heard reports of this earlier in the week.

Mendenhall missed three straight practices this week. Stepfan Taylor would serve as Ellington’s back up.

Mendnehall has rushed 92 times this season for 281 yards. A mediocre average of 3.1 yards per carry. Ellington has been more efficient this season, though used consideribly less. Ellington has carried the ball 28 times for 179 yards. Ellington is a bigger threat in the passing game too, he has caught 20 passes for 190 yards.

The Cardinals and offensive coordinator Harold Goodwin don’t envision Andre Ellington as a full-time back so he could be expected to split snaps fairly evenly with another back. Reports indicate that will be Taylor, but it could be Alfonso Smith.

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