http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slu...v=ap&type=lgns
Carson Palmer aced the test.
With a bulky brace protecting his rebuilt knee, the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback took the hits, avoided the rush and threw three first-half touchdown passes Monday night in his first preseason game of the year.
By the time the Bengals jogged to the locker room with a 34-7 halftime lead over the Green Bay Packers, Palmer had convincingly made his case that he'll be ready to start the season opener.
He was that good.
Showing no hesitation to take a hard tackle or take off on a desperate scramble, Palmer completed 9 of 14 passes for 140 yards and three touchdowns in the half. It felt like old times at jubilant Paul Brown Stadium when he pointed his right index finger to the sky in celebration after his second touchdown throw.
"He hasn't lost a thing," right tackle Willie Anderson said. "He's our leader, and he's back. That's got to make any Bengals fan feel real happy."
Unless his left knee swells up in the next few days, Palmer will be on schedule to start in Kansas City on Sept. 10, his goal all along during a grueling comeback from an injury that had overshadowed the franchise since a playoff loss to Pittsburgh.
"He dropped back, he rolled out, he got hit a few times, he had a chance to run the ball," coach Marvin Lewis said. "He looked very good, very sharp. It's still just preseason, but it's encouraging.
"I can't say I'm all that surprised. Maybe he was a little sharper than you'd expect, but we've seen him working every day for six months."
Palmer throws 3 TD's
Palmer throws 3 TD's
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