Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians expects Carson Palmer to return

One notable veteran is coming back for the Arizona Cardinals next season, and the other may be announcing his intentions to do so soon.

A disappointing season for the Arizona Cardinals put the futures of wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald and quarterback Carson Palmer into doubt, but Fitzgerald has already announced he will return for next season. Speculation earlier this week suggested Palmer was moving out of Arizona and had pulled his kids out of school there, but he refuted it himself while also continuing to give no definitive answer about his future.

Fitzgerald’s decision play the 2017 season seems to bode well for Palmer making a decision to return, and Cardinals’ head coach Bruce Arians has been consistently hopeful both guys will be coming back next season.

Arians appeared on ESPN’s NFL Insiders Friday afternoon, and his optimism is now focused solely on Palmer’s future plans.

"“I think he’ll announce he’s coming back real soon,” Arians said during an appearance on ESPN’s NFL Insiders on Friday. “I think it’s just a matter of letting all the bumps and bruises heal, have a great time with the kids snow skiing … and he’ll be back.”"

Palmer had a rough 2016 overall, due partially to a lingering hamstring issue. But he did play better late in the season, with multiple passing touchdowns in six of the last seven games and just three interceptions over the last five games (183 pass attempts), so there appears to be something left in the tank at 37 years old.

Palmer has pointed to physical concerns as a driver for his decision about playing or not playing next season, which Arians alluded to as well. The Cardinals also reportedly would like a decision from Palmer by mid-February, so they can shape an offseason plan to acquire a quarterback if necessary.

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It’s easy to see Fitzgerald and Palmer as a package deal for the Cardinals, as each tries to end their career with a Super Bowl win. Fitzgerald suggested during an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show Friday that he doesn’t know what Palmer will do, but logic would suggest otherwise.