Arizona Cardinals QB Carson Palmer feeling good, looking to ‘ramp up’ rehab

TEMPE, Ariz. — Carson Palmer was neither optimistic nor pessimistic Wednesday while discussing his right shoulder.

The Arizona Cardinals quarterback has been trying to work his way back since suffering a nerve injury in the team’s Week 1 win over the San Diego Chargers. He has not played in a game since then, and has been unable to participate in a full practice.

However, there may have been a breakthrough in his recovery last week when he visited a specialist in Denver. Palmer threw a little Sunday before the team’s game against the Broncos, and then again Tuesday. He also played some soft toss during the portion of practice that was open to the media Wednesday.

Palmer, who said he was feeling good, estimated that he threw at about 35 to 40 percent Tuesday, and hopes to “ramp it up a little bit every day.”

What that means for Palmer’s status, at least as it pertains to Sunday’s game against Washington, remains to be seen. He said the uncertainty around the position, especially in the wake of Drew Stanton’s concussion, will not factor into how he approaches his recovery this week.

His only concern, the 34-year-old said, is getting comfortable with the game plan and making sure his nerve “stays on.”

The good news is that, at least for now, the nerve appears to be on its way back. Palmer said he underwent MAT therapy, which stands for “Muscle Activation Techniques” and involves various different treatments meant to stimulate the nerve. It will also involve a return trip to Colorado.

“We’ll practice all this week; there’s some things I can do, just rehab-wise, and I’ll probably have to fly back out on Friday,” he said.

Just as it has been really since the moment Palmer got injured, much of the next few days will be spent taking somewhat of a wait-and-see approach. Assuming there are no setbacks, the quarterback will continue to press forward and hope to reach a point where he can play again. He has no cutoff date in mind for when he needs to be ready in order to play, but he would like to get at least one practice in before declaring himself ready to go.

“I’ve just got to be able to throw a ball,” he said of what he’s looking for out of himself. “Let loose and throw it hard. That’s basically it.”

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