Cardinals’ Drew Stanton refutes claim that he played through torn ACL
Dec 31, 2017, 8:02 PM | Updated: Jan 1, 2018, 4:01 pm
Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton (5) passes against the Seattle Seahawks in the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Dec. 31, 2017, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
(AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
After Arizona Cardinals Larry Fitzgerald made it known that quarterback Drew Stanton played on a torn ACL for two weeks, Stanton refuted the claim Monday, stating it was a bone bruise.
“Yeah, I’m not telling him any secrets, apparently,” he said to 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station’s Craig Grialou.
Fitzgerald tweeted after the Cardinals beat the Seattle Seahawks in the 2017 finale that Stanton returned for the last two games playing on a torn ACL.
So proud of the way the team competed today. Showed a lot of character all day. Especially @drewstanton, he has the heart of a champion. Played the last two weeks for his brothers despite an ACL tear. Love ya man!!
— Larry Fitzgerald (@LarryFitzgerald) January 1, 2018
In fact, he had been playing without an ACL for years, according to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
#AZCardinals QB Drew Stanton, a top backup QB for free agency, is a tough dude. He has been playing with no ACL for YEARS. He had just a thread, now has none. No surgery planned. Once he got over a bone bruise, he just played on. Stanton knows how to manage it.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) January 1, 2018
After starting quarterback Carson Palmer broke his arm in an Oct. 22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams, Stanton took the starting job but injured his knee in a Nov. 9 home game against the Seahawks. He finished out the game, and the Cardinals then switched to third-string quarterback Blaine Gabbert for the next five weeks due to the severity of Stanton’s injury.
Head coach Bruce Arians announced before a Week 16 battle against the New York Giants that he decided to return to Stanton over Gabbert.
At the time, Arians said Stanton’s injury, which was reported to be a sprain, had improved enough to help the Cardinals win games.
“He’s moving around really good now, and that’s that veteran presence in the huddle,” Arians said.
Asked if Stanton could have played sooner, Arians said the quarterback could not.
“No, it’s bad. He’s still going to play in a lot of pain, but his mobility’s back,” the head coach said.
Stanton went 20-of-34 for 209 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions on Dec. 24 as Arizona beat the Giants, 23-0.
While showing off his mobility despite the injury, he completed 15 of 34 passes for 145 yards, one touchdown and one interception on Sunday at Seattle.
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