The Arizona Cardinals won't wait until game time to test out Carson Palmer's shoulder before making a call on their starting quarterback.
Coach Bruce Arians announced Friday that Drew Stantonwill start Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.
Palmer will be the backup if he can throw, according to Fox Sport Radio's Mike Jurecki. Palmer hasn't thrown all week. If he can't go, rookie Logan Thomas will be the backup.
Stanton started his first game since 2010 in a 25-14 road win over the New York Giants last week. The 30-year-old quarterback had a woeful 48.3 completion percentage. However, he avoided the big mistake and didn't turn the ball over.
Palmer's shoulder injury could last "a day ... (or) a month," Arians said earlier in the week. Clearly, Arians didn't want to wait until the weekend to see if the shoulder nerves began firing.
The starting quarterback situation will put more impetus on Andre Ellington -- who continues to battle a foot injury -- and the rest of the Cardinals' running game, which no longer includes Jonathan Dwyer.
Arians has repeatedly said he has faith in Stanton to run his offense. This week, he didn't wait until game time to display that faith in the backup quarterback.
The latest Around The NFL Podcast recaps the Falcons' lopsided win over the Bucs and previews every other game in Week 3.
