CINCINNATI — Carson Palmer reported no problems with his surgically rebuilt left knee on Thursday, another indication the quarterback will be ready for the season opener.
Palmer threw three touchdowns Monday night in a triumphant return from his knee surgery. The only question following a 48-17 preseason victory over Green Bay was how the knee would react in the next few days.
So far, it's fine.
After the team's day off, Palmer returned to practice Wednesday and got ready to play in the Bengals' final preseason game Friday night in Indianapolis. There was no limp and no hesitation in practice drills before the media.
"It felt great," Palmer said. "There were no side effects or anything. The knee held up like we expected. It feels great today, and it felt great yesterday."
LEINART TO BECOME A FATHER: Southern California basketball player Brynn Cameron will miss the coming season because she is expecting a baby with Arizona Cardinals quarterback Matt Leinart, according to her father.
Cameron is due to deliver a boy in November, Stan Cameron told the Ventura County Star for Wednesday's editions.
Cameron, a 20-year-old junior guard, and Leinart dated while he attended USC. He graduated in December and was drafted by the Cardinals in April.
Asked Wednesday about Cameron, Leinart said, "I'm not going to comment."
Cameron and Leinart reportedly broke up last year but still talk frequently, according to Stan Cameron, who spoke to the newspaper from out of state.
"Brynn does not want to get married," he said. "She wants to finish school and let Matt do his thing and then figure it out."
Cameron said his daughter doesn't want to comment until after the baby is born.
"It might not be the best timing in the world, but we are obviously very happy to have a new baby in the family," Stan Cameron said. "Brynn just found out about a month ago and told the team on Monday."
EAGLES RELEASE DETMER, PINKSTON: Two long-time Eagles are out and one is returning to the nest after a two-year hiatus.
The Philadelphia Eagles released quarterback Koy Detmer and receiver Todd Pinkston on Wednesday and re-signed quarterback A.J. Feeley, who led the team to a 4-1 record in the last five games of the 2002 season when Donovan McNabb and Detmer were both sidelined with injuries.
Pinkston, who was a target of intense criticism from the team's fans in recent years, was made expendable earlier this week when the Eagles sent a draft pick and reserve linebacker Mark Simoneau to the New Orleans Saints for Donte' Stallworth.