Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said Rashard Mendenhall (toe) was impressive in his return to practice Monday.

Mendenhall's toe should be all healed up following Arizona's Week 9 bye. "Rashard looked very, very good today and it was nice to see him running like that again," Arians said. Mendenhall has the potential to be a drain on rookie Andre Ellington's fantasy value more than a standalone flex option.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) participated in Monday's practice.

It was just an informal session coming off Arizona's bye week, but it puts Mendenhall on track to return in Week 10. What the workload delineation should be between Mendenhall, Andre Ellington and Stepfan Taylor has been of much debate, but coach Bruce Arians has already said Mendenhall will more-or-less be returning to his normal role. However, he's also said he'd like to increase Ellington's touches. Ellington will be a viable FLEX play for Week 10, regardless of whether Mendenhall suits up.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) did not practice Wednesday.

The Cardinals are on their bye week. They won't practice again until next Monday, so we won't have another update on Mendenhall until then. Coach Bruce Arians has already said Mendenhall will return to early-down duties once healthy.

Speaking Monday, Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said he was "sure" Rashard Mendenhall (toe) would resume his early-down role when healthy.

It's, of course, an indication Andre Ellington didn't earn a bigger role with his Sunday masterpiece, but we wouldn't be surprised to see Arians back off his statement a bit following Arizona's Week 9 bye. Mendenhall has been spectacularly ineffective this season, but rookie fill-in Stepfan Taylor wasn't a whole lot better on Sunday. Either way, the Cards simply aren't ready to commit to bigger snap counts for the 5-foot-9, 199-pound Ellington.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Rashard Mendenhall (toe) will not play Sunday against the Falcons.

Not surprising. Mendenhall didn't practice at all this week and is listed as doubtful on the injury report. Aside from a goal-line plunge here or there, Mendenhall has mostly been a fantasy non-factor this season. Andre Ellington will get the start in Mendenhall's place and will be a high-end flex play.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) is listed as doubtful for Week 8 against the Falcons after missing practice again Friday.

Per beat writer Mike Jurecki, Andre Ellington "could" start against Atlanta, and Stepfan Taylor is expected to be his backup. It's interesting that Jurecki named Taylor instead of Ryan Williams or Alfonso Smith, which goes to show just how muddled and uncertain the pecking order has become behind Mendenhall and Ellington. Ellington is a slightly more attractive flex play in Week 8, but there are strong indications he'll remain a 30-32 snap-per-game player, instead of assuming every-down back duties.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) missed Cardinals practice Friday.

Cards OC Harold Goodwin made it clear Thursday the team still doesn't envision Andre Ellington as a full-time back, so we might see more Alfonso Smith and Ryan Williams' 2013 debut if Mendenhall is inactive against the Falcons. Mendenhall missed practice every day this week, despite coming off a long week following last Thursday night's loss to the Seahawks. Mendenhall has been so ineffective that we wouldn't discourage any 12-team fantasy leaguers from dropping him to grab a higher-upside waiver pickup.

AzCardinals.com is unsure if Rashard Mendenhall (toe) will be active for Week 8.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) remained out of Cardinals practice Thursday.

Mendenhall's Week 8 status is unclear, but there haven't been any strong indications that he's going to sit out against the Falcons. Either way, a total non-factor even when healthy this season, it's going to be even harder to trust Mendenhall at less than 100 percent. He's shaping up as a desperation FLEX option. His status will be updated on Friday, where he'll also likely be dropped in Rotoworld's Week 8 ranks.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) did not practice Wednesday.

Mendenhall hasn't been on the injury report with his toe "injury" for a few weeks. There's no reason to believe he's in danger of missing Week 8 against Atlanta. However, he's been a total bust in 2013. Mendenhall hasn't rushed for more than 66 yards in a game this season. He's a low-end flex option.

Rashard Mendenhall rushed 13 times for 22 yards and a touchdown in Arizona's Week 7 loss to the Seahawks.

He wasn't targeted in the passing game. Mendenhall was as bad as the box score suggests, leaving yards on the field and failing to break tackles behind Arizona's admittedly pathetic line. His longest rush went for six yards. His best carry was his three-yard score in the second quarter, where he made the proper read, cut on a dime and made his way into the end zone. Otherwise, it was as forgettable of a night as a running back will ever have. Mendenhall gets Atlanta's beat-up defense in Week 8, but won't be more than a desperation FLEX option.

Rashard Mendenhall rushed for 40 yards on ten carries in Week 6 versus San Francisco.

Mendenhall reeled in his lone target for a two-yard pickup in the passing game. It was a pretty pedestrian effort, while rookie Andre Ellington piled up 92 yards and a score on 12 touches compared to the 42 yards Mendenhall tallied on 11 touches. The two continue to split the load evenly. We don't envision that changing even though it's clear Ellington is the superior talent. Mendenhall is nothing more than a low-end flex option on a weekly basis.

Cardinals coach Bruce Arians was openly displeased with Rashard Mendenhall following his Week 4 game.

The Cardinals got the win, but Mendenhall ran out of bounds late when he wasn't supposed to, dropped a pass, and fumbled twice, losing one. "Rashard had a very tough day and he can't play that way," said Arians. "He can't run out of bounds. He's a veteran. And to run out of bounds at the end of the game, that was probably the worst mistake he made all day. We need to practice him a little bit harder." Eventually, there could be a changing of the guard with Andre Ellington stepping in as Arizona's primary tailback. The Cardinals aren't to that point yet, however.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) is probable for Sunday's game against the Bucs.

Mendenhall fully participated in practice Friday for the second straight day. His Week 4 status was never in doubt.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) was upgraded to "full" in Thursday's practice.

Mendenhall's Week 4 status was never in doubt, but he's running into a rough matchup in the Bucs' talented run defense. Tampa is permitting just 3.9 yards per carry, which is exactly what Mendenhall is averaging. He's a low-end FLEX play.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) was limited in Cardinals practice Wednesday.

Mendenhall, like teammate Larry Fitzgerald, missed most of the practice week ahead of Week 3 versus the Saints but still suited up. He'll be all systems go against the Bucs on Sunday. Mendenhall is a low-end flex option for Week 4.

Rashard Mendenhall played on just 23-of-58 snaps (39.6 percent) in Sunday's loss to the Saints.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports Rashard Mendenhall (toe) is expected to play Sunday versus New Orleans.

Mendenhall missed practice on Wednesday and Thursday before returning to practice Friday. He's listed as questionable. This is one week where Mendenhall will be a solid flex play against an injury-riddled Saints defense.

The Cardinals' website expects Rashard Mendenhall (questionable, toe) to play in Week 3 after returning to Friday's practice.

Cards.com's Darren Urban also expects Larry Fitzgerald (hamstring, questionable) to play. Both players were limited in Friday's practice, but coach Bruce Arians is a bit conservative with practice participation and injury reports. Expect both core starters to be out there in a plus matchup at New Orleans.

Rashard Mendenhall (toe) returned to Cardinals practice Friday.

The Cards never commented on Mendenhall's early-week practice absences, but he appears on track to start against the Saints. He'll be a solid flex play.