TEMPE -- Kerry Rhodes missed the start of the resurgence of the Arizona Cardinals defense, sitting out eight games due to injury. The safety might not be 100 percent healed, but it seems he's ready to play and contribute.
Meanwhile, there is be a gameday decision to be made on who will be at quarterback for the Cardinals, as Kevin Kolb is trying to come back from concussion symptoms and John Skelton could get the call.
Asked about Kolb's status for Sunday against the Cleveland Browns -- a must-win for the Cardinals with their faint playoff hopes -- coach Ken Whisenhunt wouldn't commit to naming a starter following Friday's practice.
"We'll see," Whisenhunt said. "It's one of those things, we still have to get to Sunday, but he's getting better and better."
And that was that. Whisenhunt made clear that no decision had to be made Friday.
As for Rhodes, the Cardinals plan to limit him to possibly 50 snaps. So said defensive coordinator Ray Horton. Rhodes said he's close to being back to full strength and hopes to be there by next week.
The issue isn't physical, Horton said, but psychological for Rhodes, who knows Horton's defense well and just needs to be in it to see it and make the proper calls.
"Kerry understood this from Day One. He was one of the ones who got it," Horton said.
Rhodes is fine with 50 plays. He said the decision to ease him back in was mutual between he and the coaches.In the meantime he was his teammates' best cheerleader, he said.
He spent his time on the sideline being observant and was happy to get back into practice and actually do what he has seen.
"It's going to be different. Practice is one thing than actually getting in the game and going downhill and playing full speed," Rhodes said. "The reaction to somebody giving me a double move or that stuff, it's going to be fun to see how that happens. I know I'll be up to the task, though. My mind's ready to go and I'm ready to go."
Rhodes said it looks fun watching his teammates fly around, as the Cardinals' D has led the team's rise in overall play. He's envisioned where he can fit in.
"I'm not worried about mistakes and not knowing what I'm doing," he said.
Rhodes feels the Cardinals' confidence never wavered though frustration did set in earlier in the season, but that has dissipated as the team has played closer to what players expected.