Drew Stanton will start at QB for Cardinals on Thursday Night Football against 49ers
Oct 5, 2016, 11:40 AM | Updated: Oct 6, 2016, 11:29 am
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) warms up prior to an NFL preseason football game against the Denver Broncos, Thursday, Sept. 1, 2016, in Glendale, Ariz. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
(AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)
Carson Palmer missed practice on Wednesday and has been ruled out for the Arizona Cardinals’ trip to face the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday.
Palmer did not pass the NFL’s concussion protocol after hitting his head on the turf while taking a sack Sunday in a loss to the Rams.
“Carson has made great progress, but there is no way I am going to take any chances with him,” said Cardinals head coach Bruce Arians, who added that Palmer will not travel with the team on Wednesday to San Francisco. “He (Palmer) argued a little bit, but he was not cleared but he’s getting much better and feels fine and hopefully we will have him back next week.”
Arians added that Palmer was not complaining of headaches and that he seemed fine and it was just a matter of going through the test.
The good news for Palmer and the Cardinals is they will will have 10 days after Thursday’s game to get ready for the New York Jets on Monday night football. Because of that lengthy time frame, Arians is optimistic that Palmer will be ready to go then.
In the meantime, the Cardinals will look to Drew Stanton will make his ninth career start for Arizona and run the offense.
“I think that is why I’m here, to fulfill these kinds of opportunities if it presents itself,” Stanton said Monday. “That all remains to be seen, and again, last game is behind now and unfortunately I didn’t do what I was hoping to do and really what I thought I was going to do. Now it’s time to move on and prepare for San Francisco and try to win a division game.”
Stanton went 5-3 as the starting quarterback for Palmer in 2014. He tossed 240 passes, completing 55 percent that season, while throwing seven touchdowns to five interceptions.
The backup attempted just 18 passes all of last season.
This year, Stanton has completed 5-of-15 passes for 48 yards and two interceptions, both of which came against Los Angeles. One came on a last-second Hail Mary.
Arians also ruled out tight end Darren Fells (shoulder) and defensive tackle Ed Stinson (toe); neither practiced at all this week. They won’t travel to San Francisco.
Arizona Sports’ Craig Grialou contributed to this story
