Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer was disappointed in his play against Detroit.
DETROIT – The hope was that plenty of offseason rest would have Carson Palmer ready to fly in the season opener on Sunday afternoon.
Instead, the takeoff was botched from the start and never got smoother. The Cardinals' veteran quarterback threw an interception on the opening series and struggled until the finish in a 35-23 loss to the Lions. Palmer was 27-of-48 passing for 269 yards with a touchdown and three interceptions.
"I just didn't do a good enough job," Palmer said. "I put that solely on myself. I'm disappointed in myself. I just felt like had I made a handful of throws, we would have been in a different position."
The Cardinals had an early 10-0 lead but Palmer's second pick of the game set up Detroit's first touchdown. The Cardinals led 17-9 in the third quarter after an impressive drive but the offense did little else until a garbage time touchdown pass from Palmer to J.J. Nelson when the outcome was no longer in doubt.
Coach Bruce Arians said it was a "poor" performance by Palmer.
"You can't throw that many interceptions," Arians said.
Palmer took a lot of time off to rest his arm this offseason, and the plan is to sit him on Wednesdays during the year. He said one poor performance won't change anything that has been planned. The best medicine for him will be getting back on the field against the Colts in Week 2.
"You've got to get past it," Palmer said. "We will get past it. I will get past it. We've got another big road game playing in another environment similar to this next week. Sunday can't come fast enough. We've got to get the work done, but at the same time, I can't wait to get this taste out of my mouth and move past this."
HAASON REDDICK PLAYS WELL IN DEBUT
The Cardinals were without money linebacker Deone Bucannon (ankle) but his replacements, rookie Haason Reddick and veteran Josh Bynes, filled in admirably. Reddick finished with eight tackles, including one for loss, in his first NFL game.
His speed was apparent on many plays in the first half as Reddick was able to track down some of the Lions' shiftier players.
"I feel like I went out there and made some plays," Reddick said.
It's an important development since Bucannon's timetable to return is unknown after he had a setback late last month. Bynes added four tackles.
THREE OFFENSIVE STARTERS LEAVE THE GAME
Left tackle D.J. Humphries left the game in the first quarter due to a knee injury. Running back David Johnson suffered a wrist injury on a third quarter fumble and didn't return. Tight end Jermaine Gresham hurt his ribs in the fourth quarter.
Arians said the severity of all of the injuries is unknown. All three players are key cogs on offense, especially Johnson, who is the team's most dynamic skill player. Kerwynn Williams and Andre Ellington filled in for Johnson after his injury.
John Wetzel played left tackle after Humphries went down.
