Cardinals' Carson Palmer returns to field for offseason workout program

Just months removed from the ACL injury that ended his 2014 season, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer appears to be on schedule in his recovery.

With the club beginning phase two of its offseason workout program Monday - the first opportunity for players to get back on the field and run plays - Palmer was participating in all drills as part of the first-team offense.

Though there's likely still plenty of work to be done before he can get back to full strength, it can only be taken as a good sign that Palmer's rejoining his teammates for on-field work so early in the offseason.

"I'm so excited about OTAs, mini-camp, training camp, New Orleans coming here (to open the regular season), going to Chicago - you start thinking of all these things," Palmer said, according to the team's official website. "I have to fight that. That's a hurdle for me, personally. I've got to fight that. It's one day at a time, one rep at a time. I'm not looking past anything."

Widely considered Super Bowl contenders prior to Palmer's injury in early November, the Cardinals should again emerge as one of the league's best teams if their star quarterback is indeed healthy in time for the regular season.

Palmer led the Cardinals to a 6-0 record in his six starts in 2014, throwing for an impressive 1,626 yards, 11 touchdowns and just three interceptions.