Cincinnati Bengals
Bengals notes: Palmer practices
By C. Trent Rosecrans, CNATI.com Posted September 7, 2009 3:36 PM ET
Bengals quarterback Carson Palmer went through an entire practice on Monday and said he's ready for Sunday's opener with the Denver Broncos, despite not playing in any of the team's final three preseason games.
"I'm 100 percent, ready to go, I'm excited," Palmer said.
Palmer said he will wear a brace on his left ankle. He suffered a high ankle sprain in the team's first preseason game at New Orleans on Aug. 14.
Palmer said he's not only feeling good about his ankle, but also this team.
"I don't know if I ever have (felt this good about a team starting the season)," Palmer said. "I'm going into my seventh year, I have more experience and have a higher comfort level in the offense than I've ever had. I think we have one of the better groups in terms of talent, maturity and guys that understand how to be a pro and act like a pro."
Palmer said he likes what he's seen so far from this offense, even if he's not been an active participant for most of the preseason.
"Having not played in three weeks makes it tougher to gauge, but we've got speed on the outside, we've got a power running game and a speed running game to sprinkle in," Palmer said. "We've got an offensive line that's really gelling together and playing well together for four games and they'll continue to grow together as they go."
More than anything, Palmer's looking forward to playing -- and winning -- on Sunday.
"It's always important, you always want to win every game and expect to win every time you step on the field," Palmer said.
MAUALUGA TO START -- Rookie linebacker Rey Maualuga told reporters he'd been earlier on Monday that he'd start on Sunday against the Broncos.
Maualuga was working with the starting linebacker group -- Keith Rivers and Dhani Jones -- during Monday's practice.
The second-round pick is playing the Sam linebacker.
GRAHAM READY FOR OPENER -- Bengals kicker Shayne Graham isn't worried about missing most of the preseason with a groin injury. He missed much of the 2005 preseason too, and that year he made the Pro Bowl.
"There's no reason for me to be worried about this," Graham said.
Graham said he's feeling much better and should be ready to kick on Sunday. The timing of this injury, is better than during the season. Last season he missed two games with a groin injury.
"I won't say it helps, but when something like that happens, it's lucky that it's in the preseason, because you have a chance to rest it, recoup it and get it strong and get it healthy," Graham said. "It's proven in the past that I've always come back strong from it, so there's no reason to think it'd be any different."
JONES OUT -- The news on cornerback David Jones' foot injury isn't as good. Jones said he doesn't know when he'll be able to return to practice. Right now he's rehabbing it, mostly by running in the pool -- so much so he said he's getting prune fingers from his time in the water.
"I want to get back as soon as possible, but I want to be smart about it," Jones said.
NO COMPETITION -- While many thought it would come down to Tom Nelson and Quan Cosby for a roster spot, both undrafted rookie free agents made the team, with Cosby listed as the starting punt returner.
Cosby said he never thought of it coming down to him or Nelson.
"I'm not sure, I think a lot of things that were going on were you guys portraying it than the coaches," Cosby said. "He did great, I had a really good preseason. I'm not sure why or when decisions were made, but I'm happy to be here."
Cosby went home to Texas to be with his family and got the call on Saturday that he'd made the team. He went home Friday, and got back in time for Sunday's team meeting.
Nelson's news was more public, as the "Hard Knocks" crew got his reaction immediately following him being told.
Since his girlfriend Twittered the news that he'd made the team - and then the official release from the Bengals -- Nelson said he's gotten a ton of text messages -- "I've gotten a lot from numbers I don't know, but they've all been positive."
Both players said it shows that draft day isn't as important as training camp.
"If you can play this game, you can play this game," Nelson said. "I felt like I had the athletic ability the whole time, I knew I could compete with these guys. The goal for me was to show not only my coaches, but everyone else in the organization what I could do."
Cosby's long draft day was more public, as he sat with Bill Cosby (no relation) for ESPN's cameras. Despite not being drafted and asked about not being drafted the five or six times the two appeared on camera, Cosby (the Bengal) said draft day was a great day.
"I don't think too many people got to spend draft day with Bill Cosby, so I consider myself pretty lucky," Cosby said. "I was laughing most the day, it wasn't a negative."
Even though he made the team, Cosby said the competition is far from over.
"Even now I've been named a starter, I'm still competing," Cosby said. "I'm still competing against every punt returner in the world."
CAPTAINS NAMED -- The Bengals voted on their permanent team captains this week and they were announced on Monday. For the offense, Carson Palmer and Andrew Whitworth were named captains. On defense, the players voted Dhani Jones and Domata Peko as captains and Kyries Hebert was named the special teams captain.
Categories: Cincinnati Bengals, Featured Stories, News
Tags: Andrew Whitworth, Carson Palmer, Cincinnati Bengals, David Jones, Dhani Jones, Domata Peko, Keith Rivers, Kyries Hebert, Marvin Lewis, Quan Cosby, Rey Maualuga, Shayen Graham, Tom Nelson
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