Andre Ellington

Andre Ellington's recovery from turf toe is happening one step at a time.

The Arizona Cardinals running back can gauge the improvement of his left big toe by how much pain it causes when he walks.

“That’s how I know I’m progressing because before I couldn’t really put pressure on it,” Ellington said Tuesday. “But now I’m starting to get into a rhythm (and do) more than I normally do. Hopefully I can progress from that and get to the running.”

The toe, which he injured in Week 12 at San Francisco, is not 100 percent healthy, Ellington said. But he added that “it’s getting there.”

Ellington didn’t seem optimistic he can play Sunday night in Philadelphia. He’s still working on rebuilding the strength needed to push off his left foot, as well as “get over some of the soreness,” he said in the story.