Cardinals notebook: Boldin to return to practice Sunday

Anquan Boldin, who has missed almost all of training camp with a sore hamstring, should return to practice when the Cardinals take the field Sunday in Flagstaff.

Boldin worked out in the pregame routine Thursday, and "he feels good," coach Ken Whisenhunt said.

Another receiver struggling with a hamstring problem, rookie Early Doucet, remains day-to-day and could be ready to play by next Saturday's preseason game in Kansas City.

The Cardinals came out of Thursday's game against New Orleans with no injuries.

NO DUMB PENALTIES!

Saying his patience for foolish penalties has run out, Whisenhunt may bench players who are guilty of personal fouls and unsportsmanlike-conduct penalties.

"Those things we're not going to tolerate. ... I'm certainly not opposed to taking the guy with the infraction out.

"If we can't get the message across we're not going to tolerate those, then we'll address it. That means we'll play other guys."

PUNTER'S POOR NIGHT

Whisenhunt said he was disappointed with the punting of Dirk Johnson, who netted only 32 yards per kick.

Johnson came to the Cardinals practice facility Friday to study what went wrong.

"I'm by no means down on Dirk. I think he's going to be a good punter for us," Whisenhunt said. "He'll work on it, and I think we'll see a much better performance next week."

PRAISE FOR ROOKS

Whisenhunt reiterated his praise for the team's younger players, including running back Tim Hightower and cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie.

Hightower scored the team's only touchdown. But afterward, he lamented that he missed a block that caused a sack.

"Tim is a focused young man," Whisenhunt said. "He's a guy who wants to get it right."

Rodgers-Cromartie, a college track star, drew raves for outrunning everyone in punt coverage and for a big hit on a Saints tight end. As far as Rodgers-Cromartie's coverage skills, Whisenhunt said he might have had an interception or pass deflection on one play but broke out of his backpedal too soon.

But as far as how he moves, "you don't have a conception of what his speed is like until you see him in an NFL game against NFL players. When you have a guy who's that fast ... I'm encouraged by his future. We're excited."

BACKUP LINE STRUGGLES

The offensive line, which includes players who have been signed recently, was a hit-or-miss group when the reserves played in the second half.

"That was probably the biggest reason why we struggled a little in the second half," Whisenhunt said. "We were feeling our way through that group."

NEW SETUP

Whisenhunt likes that the NFL now allows coaches to communicate with the defense through a microphone, the same way they've talked with the offense in recent years.

"It seemed to help at times. We were quicker in and out of the huddle," he said.

In addition to calling the defensive sets, "you can always tell the defensive end, his alignment was too wide, tell the safeties they're playing too far off.

"Those kinds of things, trying to yell from the sideline ... is a little bit difficult."