Just days after Arizona Cardinals coach Bruce Arians said he hoped that quarterback Drew Stanton will be back in time for the playoffs, the team got the news that the signal caller is out indefinitely due to his right knee injury, putting the postseason in doubt.
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ESPN reports that Stanton's right knee was scoped Wednesday after he experienced swelling in it.
"He's at home and will stay there and rehab over the weekend and be ready to go next week, hopefully," Arians told the affiliate.
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Stanton has no timetable for his return officially, but he is on antibiotics and the team is hopeful for a speedy recovery. ESPN reports that an official close to the situation said that "there is a realistic chance for him to return" this season.
The Cardinals (11-4) visit the San Francisco 49ers (7-8) in the regular season finale on Sunday and will start Ryan Lindley under center while Logan Thomas is also there incase Lindley falters.
The Seattle Seahawks (11-4) host the St. Louis Rams (6-8) on that same night with the NFC West up in the air.
Doctors drained Stanton's knee and discovered that he had an infection, which they suspect came from outside treatment the quarterback was getting to try and heal the injury.
"I have no idea about infections and all that," Arians said. "You talk to doctors about that stuff. He's on schedule for next week."
Arians had said earlier this week that there was an "85 percent chance" that Stanton returns for the playoffs -- which could be as soon as next weekend -- when Arizona makes its first appearance in the tournament in five years, but now it is unknown if that will actually happen.
Arizona is likely headed to a wild-card game next week, but a win on Sunday and a Seahawks loss could net them the No. 1 or No. 2 seed depending on the result of the Green Bay Packers vs. Detroit Lions game.
Stanton took over the starting job for the Cardinals after incumbent signal caller Carson Palmer suffered a season-ending torn ACL on Nov. 9, just two days after signing a three-year $50 million extension with the team.
Stanton, 30, is 132-for-240 (55 percent) thus far this season for 1,711 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions through nine games.
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