The Cardinals have all but admitted quarterback Carson Palmer’s out this week, after suffering a concussion last night with a short-week game against the 49ers on Thursday.
And though he gave little indication of why they should be, Cardinals players said they were confident in backup Drew Stanton.
“Two years ago when Carson went down, Drew did a nice job of coming in and winning,” wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said, via Kent Somers of the Arizona Republic. “We have to keep playing. We have to keep fighting. If Drew is playing in San Francisco, we don’t know what the scenario is going to be but we’re going to be prepared.”
Fitzgerald was referencing the eight-game stretch when Stanton went 5-3 as starter after Palmer tore his ACL in 2014. Of course, that season unraveled when Stanton suffered his own knee injury and they had to use Ryan Lindley in the playoffs. In case you don’t recall, it didn’t go well.
But in the near term, Stanton hasn’t been as sharp, as he was 4-of-11 for 37 yards passing, with two interceptions in yesterday’s loss to the Rams.
“It’s unfortunate we’re coming off a short week but that’s the way this league is built,” Stanton said. “You have to be able to go in, especially somebody in my role.”
Of course, the fact they’re playing Blaine Gabbert and the 49ers might give them a boost of confidence, which they’ll take at the moment, as they’re stuck with the same 1-3 record.