Vikings-Cardinals game will be missing Larry Fitzgerald Jr.

Cardinals receiver Larry Fitzgerald in December 2020.For the first time since 2003, the Vikings will play an Arizona Cardinals team without native Minnesotan and future first-ballot Pro Football Hall of Fame receiver Larry Fitzgerald Jr.

Fitzgerald, 38, hasn't formally retired from the NFL, but it's looking more like the former Holy Angels standout has privately called it a career after starting 270 of 272 games, including playoffs, over 17 seasons. He remains a free agent as the Cardinals play host to the Vikings in Week 2.

Those who know him well in Arizona say Fitzgerald would prefer to fade away quietly without any sort of announcement and hates tearful retirement news conferences.

After…