Carson Palmer's bumpy preseason has to be an internal cause for concern for the Oakland Raiders. Palmer has some concerns himself.
The quarterback -- who's thrown four interceptions and no touchdowns in three preseason games -- said Monday that it's imperative he builds a rapport with wide receivers Denarius Moore and Jacoby Ford before Oakland's Sept. 10 season opener.
"We need a ton of work together," Palmer said Monday, via the Bay Area News Group. "You can never get enough work with a guy, even if he's played every rep and you've played every rep.
"When they're back, it's not easy to get up off the couch, or a walking boot, or off crutches and show up and play."
Both players have missed significant time with injuries this month. The team is bringing Moore along slowly as he recovers from a hamstring issue. Ford is dealing with a sprained foot. Neither receiver is expected to practice this week or play in Oakland's preseason finale Thursday.
"There's going to be a little bit of a process of getting their legs back and their conditioning back, but also their minds and bodies to the speed of the game to get caught up with everything," Palmer said.
Palmer is in a difficult situation here. He's grasping for any sense of comfort in a new offense that's not necessarily catered to his skill-set, and his two top receivers have spent August working with trainers. The quarterback's early-season play will be something to monitor closely next month.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @danhanzus.
