NFL Bengals' Palmer optimistic for opener

He's practicing, but still isn't ready to test his knee with contact.
GEORGETOWN, Ky. (AP) -- Not even Carson Palmer knows how close he is to fully recovered.
Palmer ran the offense Saturday during the Cincinnati Bengals' first training camp practice, adding to the optimism that his reconstructed left knee will be strong enough to let him start the season opener.
How close is he to 100 percent?
"There's no way to tell right now," Palmer said. "I'll have a better feel for it next week at this time."
Palmer has beaten the odds so far in his recovery from two torn knee ligaments, suffered during a 31-17 playoff loss to Pittsburgh. He ran the offense during some minicamp drills in June, putting him ahead of schedule in his comeback.
The final test began Saturday.
Gets standing ovation
Palmer got a standing ovation from several thousand fans at Georgetown College when he walked onto the field for the first workout, helmet in hand.
Right tackle Willie Anderson walked up behind Palmer and waved his fist toward the crowd, urging more applause. Then, he patted Palmer, who smiled appreciatively.
"To go that many months and not have a setback -- that's the biggest reason people are excited about how he might be ready," Anderson said. "With a knee operation, a guy might have a two-month setback. But he hasn't had any."
During the next couple of weeks, Palmer's left knee will get pushed harder than it has in the last few months -- and, at some point, take a hit for the first time, too. Only then will Palmer and the Bengals know whether it's realistic to pencil him in for the opener at Kansas City on Sept. 10.
"We talk about plans, and plans are great," Palmer said. "But going into uncharted territory, my first reconstructive knee surgery ... I have to roll with the punches. We can sit here and say I'm planning to play in the third preseason game against Green Bay, but plans could change tomorrow."
For the moment, Palmer has a few things to figure out.
Testing knee braces
He has three different knee braces to test during camp, each one a little bulkier than the other. He has to find out whether the knee swells up when he starts stressing it during practice.
And, he will eventually find out what happens the first time he gets taken down. That will be a major test -- one he wasn't quite ready for on Saturday.
"I'm confident running with it and planting and cutting," he said. "But as far as getting hit, having to run full-speed and stop in a small area, I'm not mentally ready for that. And I don't think my knee's ready for that. There's no point in me testing it and seeing exactly what I can and can't do."
That will come later. For now, the Bengals are looking to see how the knee reacts to two-a-day practices, and how his backups look -- just in case.
The Bengals signed Anthony Wright and Doug Johnson in the offseason, giving them a replacement if Palmer isn't ready. Backup quarterback Jon Kitna left for Detroit as a free agent in the offseason.
Wright and Johnson will take a lot of snaps while the Bengals figure out which one is Palmer's backup.
"We'll give them equal shares at the beginning," offensive coordinator Bob Bratkowski said. "We're going to have to decide between those two who's going to be the No. 2 guy -- which could be the No. 1 guy. So we'll have to get to that pretty quick."
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