Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer's biggest concern is keeping the team healthy throughout the preseason.
Let's just come out with it: the Cardinals have looked abysmal this preseason.
The team is 0-2 and has been outscored 50-13 by the Raiders and Chargers. The quarterback play has been poor and the other positions haven't exactly been a beacon of shining light.
The third exhibition game is commonly referred to as the dress rehearsal for the regular season, so maybe Sunday against the Texans is when the Cardinals finally find their rhythm. Isn't that important?
"I hate to say this…" wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald began.
"You hate to say it…" Carson Palmer said.
It turns out the Cardinals really don't care one whit about the exhibition slate.
"The preseason," Fitzgerald said, "is drudgery. You've got to go out there and play but it doesn't mean anything."
The Cardinals won 13 games last year, advanced to the NFC Championship and returned basically every difference-maker in the offseason. They also added key pieces which could make them better.
A few disjointed games when the score doesn't matter aren't going to dampen their Super Bowl expectations.
"We've had 15 reps in the preseason games," Palmer said of the starting offense. "I've had thousands of reps thus far in training camp. We've had tens of thousands of reps together as a unit. There's enough data looking back at all the plays in last year's games, OTAs and so far this training camp. That's where you get your confidence and you see what you're made of, by looking at so many reps that we've put together as a group. Not three series as an offense in a preseason game."
The starters might play two quarters in Houston, although it wouldn't be a surprise if Palmer is taken out earlier. Veterans nursing minor injuries – like Fitzgerald – could also be held out as a precaution.
Coach Bruce Arians likes the idea of his starting offensive line getting challenged by a good Texans front (sans J.J. Watt, however) but otherwise is most interested in staying healthy.
On other teams, there are quarterback competitions still being waged and new coaches trying to get their playbooks installed. Arians will be watching his backups closely as cuts approach, but he already has a great feel for his starters.
"I'm not interested in seeing them play 30 plays," Arians said. "I know what they can do."
Some believe poor preseason play is a bad omen for the season opener, worried that the sloppiness will carry over to the games that matter. But success and failure in exhibition games have no predictive value, which backup quarterback Drew Stanton knows from experience.
In 2008, he played for a Lions team which went a perfect 4-0 in the preseason. Any perceived momentum was non-existent, because Detroit ended up 0-16 in the regular season.
"The preseason is great, don't get me wrong," Stanton said. "It helps build your confidence and you work on different things. (But) I think sometimes people get caught up in the records."
Images of the players who stood out the most throughout training camp
CardsCamp MVP: WR Jaron Brown. The Cardinals have a deep group at wideout, and playing time during the regular season for Brown could be sporadic, but he took advantage of regular work in camp. Brown lined up a lot with the first team because of injuries and seemed to come away with one or two big-time catches in every practice. Brown is a fantastic safety valve to have if he's needed regularly during the season.
WR Jaron Brown hauls in a touchdown catch
WR Jaron Brown at the line of scrimmage
CardsCamp Most Improved: TE Troy Niklas. The former second-round pick was close to bust status after struggling with injuries in his first two seasons, but a healthy training camp has allowed him to make significant strides. Niklas is in the mix for a starting role as he begins to deliver on the vast potential he showed coming out of Notre Dame.
TE Troy Niklas with a juggling reception
TE Troy Niklas catches a pass in camp
CardsCamp Best Rookie: CB Brandon Williams. The third round pick has taken the field with the starters throughout camp. While there have been some growing pains, the Cardinals are excited about his progress. Williams is a converted running back who has played corner for only a year, but he's catching on quickly and should make an impact quicker than originally expected.
CB Brandon Williams looks up for a tipped pass
CB Brandon Williams grabs on to WR Jaron Brown
CardsCamp Biggest Surprise: WR Chris Hubert. The undrafted free agent out of Fayetteville State had little buzz entering training camp, but quickly established himself by regularly getting open and making catches. He shot up the depth chart, and while it would still be a surprise for him to make the team, Hubert has turned heads. Even a practice squad spot would be a solid accomplishment for the diminutive rookie.
WR Chris Hubert makes a catch
WR Chris Hubert scores a touchdown
CardsCamp Best Comeback: S Tyrann Mathieu. The All-Pro safety tore his ACL at the end of last season and missed most of camp, but returned for the final week. He picked off three passes in his first three practices and looks like he should be ready for the regular season opener.
S Tyrann Mathieu does individual drills on his first day back
S Tyrann Mathieu picks off a pass in practice
