Carson Palmer set to start

Well, that was fast. Minutes after telling a follower that the Arizona Cardinals are “holding out hope” for quarterback Carson Palmer to play today against the Arizona Cardinals, the NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reports that Palmer is indeed getting ready to make his first start since suffering that nasty nerve injury against the San Diego Chargers back in Week 1. Although Palmer isn’t at full strength, he made significant progress at practice this week, and, given Adam Schefter’s report earlier today, this report from Rapoport makes much more sense than the vague “holding out hope” one.

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It’s huge, sudden news, but it doesn’t mean that Palmer is guaranteed to play today. As Schefter reported, he will still be a game-time decision, so the Cardinals are wisely going to check out his nerve and throwing ability before making a final call. Drew Stanton has been cleared, so the Cardinals don’t have to use the incredibly erratic Logan Thomas as their lone contingency plan.

Palmer is fully expected to play today against the Washington Redskins, as only a pre-game warm-up setback can hold him out at this juncture, though that isn’t an inconceivable circumstance either. He has a great matchup to ease himself back into things, as the Redskins have one of the league’s worst pass defenses and could give up some big plays to the likes of Andre Ellington and Michael Floyd.