ARIZONA CARDINALS

Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer on recovery: ‘Everything’s on schedule’

Jan 5, 2015, 12:30 AM | Updated: 12:30 am

TEMPE, Ariz. — Sometimes lost amid the Arizona Cardinals’ struggles at quarterback is that they actually have a very capable passer already on the roster in Carson Palmer.

Palmer, 35, appeared in six games this season — all wins — and completed 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,626 yards with 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. He was well on his way to having one of the best seasons of his career before a torn ACL against the St. Louis Rams in Week 10 landed him on injured reserve.

Any predictions on how the Cardinals will fare next season are largely predicated on a return to health for the veteran, and Sunday following Arizona’s season-ending 27-16 Wild Card round loss to the Carolina Panthers, Palmer said “everything’s on schedule.”

“Just continuing to grind it out,” he added. “It’s baby steps from here, but I actually get to start up-tempo walking/jogging on Monday so I’m excited about that.”

Just days before hurting his knee Palmer had signed three-year contract extension with the team, a move that served to reaffirm the faith the Cardinals had in the former Cincinnati Bengal and Oakland Raider.

And while the injury may have ended his season, it did little to change the team’s perspective.

“He’s as resilient as ever. He’s tough as nails,” head coach Bruce Arians said when asked what he learned about Palmer this season. “He’s the guy you want leading your football team and your franchise.”

Arians went on to say he is not worried about Palmer’s recovery from the injury because the QB is in great health and the injury was, as he put it, “freaky.” The coach added Palmer’s “arm strength and everything else” is great.

“He takes great care of himself, so I don’t see why he couldn’t play for two or three more years.”

Palmer will have to get back on the field first, and he is optimistic that he will return “sooner rather than later.” He noted he’s probably one of the few players already excited for OTAs and minicamps, and when asked if he expects to be 100 percent by the start of next season, he answered, “absolutely.”

But to get there the quarterback will have to go through months of rehab, a process made easier by having already been through this once before. Palmer said he knows what to expect now, which will help with the mental part of his recovery.

And after being only able to watch as his team’s potentially great season slipped away, Palmer is ready to do whatever it takes to not only get back on the field, but be an improved player, too.

“It’s not easy, it’s never easy, it definitely wasn’t easy,” he said of having to sit out. “But you’ve got to roll with the punches. It’s a very humbling game; it’s fair and unfair at different times, and you just can’t stay stagnant. You can’t just assume that ‘alright, I’ll do the same thing I did last year and we’ll be back there.’ You’ve got to find ways to get better every offseason, during the season, during the playoffs, whatever it may be.

“And I’m going to find different ways to improve my game. You’ve got to get past these things, get over them.”

Presented By
Western Governors University

Arizona Cardinals

Desmond Ridder runs the rock against Houston...

Tyler Drake

Desmond Ridder eager to remind fellow Cardinals QB Clayton Tune about college wins

Cardinals quarterback Desmond Ridder may not know Kyler Murray just yet, but he and Clayton Tune go way back.

22 hours ago

LSU's Malik Nabers, a top NFL Draft prospect...

Kevin Zimmerman

NFL Draft: Malik Nabers to visit Arizona Cardinals after LSU pro day, per report

Top NFL Draft receiver prospect Malik Nabers will reportedly visit with the Arizona Cardinals after the LSU Tigers' pro day.

1 day ago

Desmond Ridder looks to pass...

Tyler Drake

QB1 or not, Desmond Ridder keeping starter mentality with Cardinals

New Cardinals QB Desmond Ridder is focused on using the good and the bad from his first two seasons rather than listening to outside chatter.

2 days ago

Jonathan Gannon and Kyler Murray look on...

Tyler Drake

Cardinals’ Jonathan Gannon: Kyler Murray’s ‘best football is ahead of him’

Cardinals head coach Jonathan Gannon believes Kyler Murray will continue taking the necessary steps forward with a full offseason of work.

2 days ago

Kyler Murray chats with Jonathan Gannon...

Arizona Sports

Arizona Cardinals will face ‘really good’ AFC opponent for joint preseason practices

The Arizona Cardinals expect to hold joint practices in the preseason against a really good AFC opponent, in the words of Jonathan Gannon.

2 days ago

Patriots and Cardinals kick off return in 2020...

Associated Press

NFL owners approve new kickoff rules for 2024

NFL kickoff rules will take on a hybrid approach similar to the XFL. League owners approved the new measures Tuesday.

2 days ago

Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer on recovery: ‘Everything’s on schedule’