Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 6, 2016 STATS LLC Associated Press Oct 04, 2016 Carson Palmer was ruled out of Thursday's game by the Arizona Cardinals, who must ask backup quarterback Drew Stanton to deliver a road win at San Francisco and keep the team from an unexpected 1-4 start. Palmer entered the week in concussion protocol, leaving the Week 4 loss to the Los Angeles Rams with a head injury Sunday. The short week left little time for manipulating the Cardinals' game plan against familiar NFC West foe San Francisco. The 49ers (1-3) have quarterback questions of their own. Arians said Tuesday before the team packed for Santa Clara, Calif., that his plan would not change much with Drew Stanton behind center Thursday. "Yeah, not really," he said. "I think the mindset is the same." Wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald said the Cardinals are confident in Stanton based on past performance. He went 5-3 in 2014 when Palmer was sidelined by a torn ACL. "We have to keep playing. We have to keep fighting," Fitzgerald said. The Cardinals might go a bit more conservative -- Arians admits this is counter his typical approach -- and ask its defense to flex its muscles. That includes cutting loose hybrid safety Tyrann Mathieu, who said this week he's ready to return to his Honey Badger role and plans to play more in the slot and closer to the box Thursday night against the 49ers. That will certainly get the 49ers' attention, according to 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert. "Yeah, you always got to be aware of where he is on the football field," Gabbert said. "He's a talented, instinctive player that makes a lot of plays on the ball. You have to be aware of where he's lining up, whether he's in the slot or he's back at safety." The Cardinals have nine takeaways, second only to the Kansas City Chiefs (10), including five interceptions. Gabbert, who has just a 73.1 passer rating with four interceptions, is fighting to keep a hold on the starting job when Colin Kaepernick is deemed healthy. Kaepernick had offseason shoulder surgery and coach Chip Kelly said last week health is still holding Kaepernick back. Some picked the Cardinals to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl -- notably, Sports Illustrated tapped Cardinals-Steelers for Super Bowl LI in Houston -- but getting out of the West division will not be easy. Seattle is 3-1 and the Rams got a leg up on Arizona with a head-to-head win Sunday. That game turned on a punt return on which Arians felt Los Angeles could have been penalized. Not he's fearful his club will allow one painful loss to multiply. "Well, you don't have a choice but to get past it. If it were a normal week, they could brood until they showed up Wednesday," Arians said. Among other changes to the depth chart, the Cardinals are sliding Andre Ellington to the No. 2 running back spot after Chris Johnson was placed on injured reserve this week. David Johnson leads the NFL in yards from scrimmage and remains entrenched as the starter. Already accounting for more than one-third of the Cardinals' total offense, David Johnson could get a big workload Thursday night as the 49ers' defense begins finding its way without inside linebacker Navorro Bowman (Achilles tendon), who was also placed on IR this week. The 49ers are also going without first-round pick DeForest Buckner (foot) and cornerback Jimmie Ward (quadricep), who were ruled out Wednesday. Protecting Gabbert with balance has become Kelly's M.O., and running back Carlos Hyde has a league-leading five rushing touchdowns in four games. While the 49ers are 32nd in the NFL in passing, teams have not been able to stack the line to stuff Hyde, and San Francisco is converting 40 percent of third downs. The deep speed of wide receiver Torrey Smith keeps most defenses on their toes, even if his season stats -- nine catches, 106 yards, one touchdown -- don't tell that story. "A lot of it just depends on how people play us," Kelly said. "We've gotten a lot of man coverage out there, and sometimes people are leaning safeties toward his side, so we're taking advantage of what's going on." Slot receiver Jeremy Kerley sustained a somewhat minor ankle injury in the Week 4 loss to Dallas and is questionable for the Thursday game against the Cardinals. He has a team-high 18 receptions and could draw Mathieu if the Cardinals employ their preferred nickel package. "It definitely will get us back in the thick of things of our true identity," said cornerback Patrick Peterson of Mathieu. "The nickel position is a huge play-making position for us, and to have a guy of his caliber back at the position definitely is something that can help our defense. Is he ready? We'll see. Only he will know that. I'm excited to see him back in his normal role." Like the Cardinals, the 49ers are dealing with some key injuries. Tight end Vance McDonald has been limited in practice this week as he attempts to return from a hip injury that kept him out of the loss to Dallas. McDonald had a career-high six catches for 71 yards and a touchdown the last time he faced the Cardinals, on Nov. 29, 2015. Traine Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
RazorStar 4,025 Posted October 6, 2016 Come and ride the train, the Choo Choo Blaine. 23 16 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted October 6, 2016 If SF loses to Drew Stanton... then again it probably won't be because of anything Drew did. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted October 6, 2016 Never thought I'd say this, but...Blaine Gabbert will be the better QB tonight. 24 13 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted October 6, 2016 I'm not sure about that. Stanton is pretty good Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 6, 2016 Cardinals declared DE Robert Nkemdiche, QB Carson Palmer, TE Darren Fells, OT Cole Toner, DT Olsen Pierre, DE Ed Stinson and DE Ed Stinson inactive for Week 5 against the 49ers. The No. 29 overall pick, Nkemdiche has missed three straight games. Palmer should be back for Week 6. 49ers declared TE Vance McDonald (hip) inactive for Week 5 vs. the Cardinals. The shorthanded 49ers will also be missing DE DeForest Buckner (foot), CB Jimmie Ward (quad) and adjusting to life without ILB Navorro Bowman (Achilles'). The 49ers' remaining inactives are QB Christian Ponder, WR Keshawn Martin, OL John Theus and DL Glenn Dorsey. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted October 7, 2016 I'm not sure about that. Stanton is pretty good Dude... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
BwareDWare94 723 Posted October 7, 2016 Yeah, Palmer is done Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FartWaffles 1,857 Posted October 7, 2016 Calais Campbell: 2 sacks, INT, and a Safety. Dude got the elusive hat-trick for d-linemen. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SteVo+ 3,702 Posted October 7, 2016 This game sucked. Would have rather watched a good game of billiards. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 7, 2016 I've got this funny feeling that is going to ride the Traine through the hardest part of this schedule (Cowboys and Cards are next), and then make a QB switch for the week 6 game against the Bills when they'll be coming off 10 days of rest and the sched gets significantly easier. Speaking after Thursday's loss to the Cardinals, 49ers coach Chip Kelly said he would consider a quarterback change. Specifically, Kelly said the coaching staff would "take a look at everything" over the 49ers' long weekend. Blaine Gabbert has been a predictable disaster under center, but Colin Kaepernick was a broken player in 2015. Kelly insists Gabbert has out-played Kap in practice, which is probably true. But Kap has at least had on-field success in his career, something mega-bust Gabbert cannot claim. We wouldn't be surprised if Kelly pulls the trigger on a change for Week 6 against Buffalo. Source: Nick Wagoner on Twitter Blaine Traine gonna come off the tracks, you guys. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cherry 1,302 Posted October 7, 2016 Apparently Niners locker room wants Christian Ponder over both Gabbert and Kaep Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
