Carson Palmer isn't going to be ready. That was Bruce Arians' gut reaction after the quarterback was concussed against the Rams Sunday and that was reality Wednesday as the Cardinals climbed aboard their flight to the Bay Area for Thursday night's game against the 49ers. So it'll be Drew Stanton at the helm as the Cards try to snap a two-game losing streak -- they have never lost three straight under Arians, and only previously lost two straight three times.

Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald tried to stay lighthearted a bit with the quarterback situation. "Carson wouldn't like me saying this, but if Drew plays, he's probably a little bit better athlete," Fitz said. "A little bit better. Last year Carson tripped on the goal line getting to the end zone with no one around (in San Francisco). Drew would never trip like that."

The truth is Stanton did play a good chunk of 2014 with these receivers. That doesn't mean he's Palmer, but at this point, with the Cards' offense less than they want it to be, perhaps Stanton can create a new dynamic.

Arians said Palmer was getting better and argued a bit for the chance to play, but it was a no go. Palmer hadn't even been officially cleared by the time Arians spoke Wednesday. Optimism is there for Palmer to be OK the next time the Cardinals play, which won't be until Oct. 17 on "Monday Night Football" versus the Jets.

-- The record isn't anywhere close to what the Cardinals hoped. But they remain in the top 10 in the NFL in both total offense and total defense, and have a plus-12 in point differential. That doesn't point to a terrible season.

-- Stanton had arguably his best game as a Cardinal against the 49ers back in 2014 when the Cards won in Arizona, 23-14. Stanton was 18-for-33 for 244 yards and two touchdowns.

-- It's been noted that, of all the guys who have thrown touchdown passes to Fitzgerald, Stanton is not one. Maybe that changes this week.

-- One thing the Cards are missing this season; Playing from ahead. That goes hand-in-hand with their first-quarter woes (they are the only team in the NFL without a first-quarter point), but that was a big reason for success last year. The Cardinals scored the first time they touched the ball six times last season, and held a first-quarter lead 10 times.

-- An under-the-radar move this week, all things considered, is the ascension of Brittan Golden to the roster. "Britt will be core special teamer," Arians said. "He'll help our special teams a bunch." Arians also said Golden will likely take over on kickoff return from Andre Ellington, now that Ellington will be needed more at running back post-Chris Johnson's injury.

-- Here's this week's Cardinals Underground podcast.

-- Someone asked Fitzgerald about fans upset with the Cardinals' start. Fitzgerald smiled. "Funny, I drive down the street and I see people's garages and they have the Cardinals flags out and I see some of those flags down now," he said. "That's disappointing, man. But we have to do our job so the people put the flags back up."

-- It doesn't sound like Robert Nkemdiche is going to be active. Arians left the door cracked for that possibility, but also noted that -- while Nkemdiche's ankle is fine -- the rookie defensive lineman might not be ready for an offense that can break huge run plays if not played correctly. Nkemdiche has yet to be active since playing a handful of snaps against the Patriots opening night.

-- This is the first of three straight games for the Cardinals in prime time. "Thursday Night Football" is followed by "Monday Night Football" against the Jets and then "Sunday Night Football" against the Seahawks. The other two games will be at University of Phoenix Stadium.

The Bay Area awaits.