Arizona Cardinals: Stanton can handle 49ers

Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton got his last start against the San Francisco 49ers last season

The last time Arizona Cardinals quarterback Drew Stanton got a start was in 2016 at the San Francisco 49ers. On November 5th after the bye week, he will find himself in familiar territory.

Stanton went 11-28 for 124-yards and two touchdowns that Thursday night. He wasn’t asked to do a lot. He didn’t look too good early but did enough to win.

He did have help from one David Johnson that evening as well. Johnson carried the ball 27 times for 157-yards and two touchdowns. Those are very similar to numbers that Adrian Peterson had on the ground week before last against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Look for the Cardinals to get back to using Peterson more. The offensive line needs to play better of course, so easier said than done.

If the Cardinals want to win in San Francisco, they can probably get away with Stanton being a game manager. After that though, likely not. They face the Seattle Seahawks four nights later in Glendale.

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Stanton comes into the San Francisco start due to an injury Carson Palmer suffered against the Los Angeles Rams…for the second year in a row. Last year it was a concussion, this year the broken arm.

If Stanton struggles, you could see Blaine Gabbert get a shot, who coincidentally was the 49ers starter opposite Stanton that night.

However if that happens, it will need to likely be out of hand before that happens. If it’s close, expect Stanton to remain in the game.

The Cardinals have said they won’t change their offense but we’ll see. Stanton isn’t Palmer. If this is an eight-week deal instead of four to six, then maybe there is a chance.

We’ll see what more coach Bruce Arians says over the next week and a half but a heavy dose of Peterson should be expected. The only likely way Stanton survives is with a decent rushing attack.

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