With 1:46 remaining in the game, Bengals backup quarterback Jordan Palmer's number was called. Watching his dejected older brother from the sidelines, Jordan trots onto the field, far from inspiring a Joe Kane moment for a possible comeback. In shotgun, Jordan dumps off the first down pass to Brian Leonard for six yards. Another pass to Leonard on second down produced only the tenth first down in the second half. On first down from the Bengals own 42-yard line, Jordan hits Quan Cosby for another five yard gain. That's three straight completed passes for 18 yards passing.
Then Jordan Palmer was rocked on back-to-back plays by Buffalo's Chris Kelsay and Bryan Scott to end the game, giving the Bills a 49-31 victory which was headlined by a 35-0 second half. Yet, this is a similar experience because every time his number is called, the Bengals are in the middle of suffering a lopsided loss. Before the 18-point loss to the Bills, Palmer participated during the Bengals 38-10 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a 34-3 loss to the Baltimore Ravens and a 35-3 loss to the Indianapolis Colts, all in 2008.
Rarely are quarterbacks pulled without an injury or unless the game enters the "mop-up duty" phase; so this isn't a knock against him. It's just his experiences.
Fast-forward to right now. His older brother Carson is the headline for most Bengals news because of his demand for a trade. The Bengals drafted a second round quarterback largely expected to become the team's starter as soon as the team feels comfortable he's ready.
Yet, according to Joe Reedy of the Cincinnati Enquirer, Palmer just wants the opportunity to compete for the starting job. Additionally encouraging is news on the team's wide receivers working out with Palmer in Mission Viejo, California.
Palmer called the workouts in California very productive. He said players improved and had the chance to bond. When asked how receivers Andre Caldwell and Jerome Simpson looked, he said both were in great shape and hungry to build on what they did late last season.