Carson Palmer 'is going to play if he can' against 49ers

Arizona Cardinals starting quarterback Carson Palmer missed his first game Sunday since joining the team. Drew Stanton stepped in an played well enough to get the Cardinals a win.

The question moving forward is whether Palmer will be able to play this weekend at home against the San Francisco 49ers.

Stanton told reporters on Monday "Carson is going to play if he can."

Palmer is dealing with nerve pain in his right shoulder. It is something the team is concerned about, but they aren't too concerned. "Any time you're dealing with nerves, your'e concerned," head coach Bruce Arians said in him Monday media session. But what Carson is dealing with "is just a bruised nerve that's being ornery."

Palmer didn't throw a single pass in practice last week. He won't this week unless the nerve "starts working." But the llack of throwing in practice won't keep him off the field. He will play if he feels right. Last season, with a sore elbow, he did not practice at all during the week leading up to the game at home against the Rams. That game he was 27/32 for 269 yards and a touchdown.

If Palmer can't go, Arians has complete confidence in Stanton to do the job against the 49ers. Arians said Stanton played better on Sunday than the numbers show.

Stanton had some passes dropped, he played a little too careful and he held the ball too long on some of his sacks. But in his first game action in the regular season since 2010, that is to be expected. His rhythm should be better at home with a game under his belt should he have to go against the Niners.