The Arizona Cardinals placed quarterback Carson Palmer on injured reserve on Thursday
After what looked like could be promising news earlier in the week turned out to be just what we thought it was. Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Carson Palmer is out for at least eight weeks.
Palmer had surgery on his broken left arm and it was determined he would need to be placed on injured reserve. There was hope that he would miss just four to six weeks and avoid being placed on IR.
The news comes as the Cardinals continue their bye week. They next play at the San Francisco 49ers on November 5th. Drew Stanton will start in Palmer’s place.
So that will beg the question come mid December when the decision can be made to remove Palmer from the IR or not. Will they allow Palmer to return?
A lot will likely be dictated by where the Cardinals are at that point. If they have no postseason shot, it is hard to see the Cardinals giving him the designation to return no matter how his arm is at that point.
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If there is a postseason spot still in play and his arm is ready, then it should be a no-brainer. Of course the Cardinals also have a couple of other guys to consider. Running backs David Johnson and T.J. Logan are both on IR but would also be eligible to return.
Starting in 2017, each team can bring back up to two players. If the Cardinals are so far out of it by then, maybe they don’t bring anyone back and save them all for next season.
Which brings up the next thought. Does this result in Palmer coming back in 2018? It may or may not. Palmer would want to and the team would also want to have him back.
Remember a couple of years ago, Baltimore Ravens receiver Steve Smith Jr. was going to retire but then went on injured reserve. He decided to come back and play one more season.
That was after Smith had announced his retirement though. Palmer has made no such indications one way or the other.