National Football League

Kolb practices 'a little bit' after concussion

Published Dec. 15, 2011 12:42 a.m. ET

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Arizona Cardinals quarterback Kevin Kolb said he was able to practice ''a little bit'' on Wednesday after tests evaluating the concussion he sustained early in Sunday's victory over San Francisco.

''The symptoms are down,'' he said. ''It's just a matter of making sure they are down long enough to where I can get out there and then be in full-speed action. That's the key right now. It's a touchy subject, and we want to make sure that we err on the right side.''

Unlike the situation with the Cleveland Browns and their quarterback, Colt McCoy, the Cardinals benched Kolb after he took a knee to the head on Arizona's third offensive play against the 49ers. He immediately went to the locker room for evaluation and it was determined he should not return to the game.

''I don't know how they handled it in Cleveland,'' Arizona coach Ken Whisenhunt said. ''All I can speak about is the way our guys did it and they did a great job with it. ... The number one thing is, if there is ever a doubt, you err to the side of caution and that's the way we are going to proceed.''

Kolb said he plans to practice more as the week goes on in hopes of being able to play Sunday against the Browns.

He said the football culture is better at dealing with concussions than it used to be.

''I think that there are so many studies coming out now that prove long-term effects and things like that,'' Kolb said. ''Obviously, our health is number one, especially when it comes to your brain. I want to be out there as much as anybody, but it's just something you don't push.''

This is Kolb's second concussion in as many seasons. He was sidelined with one after he started last season's opener for Philadelphia and wound up losing the starting job to his replacement, Michael Vick. That eventually led to the trade that brought Kolb to Arizona.

Under the NFL's revised rules, Kolb was required to see a doctor not affiliated with the Cardinals to have his condition independently evaluated. He said he did so on Tuesday and that the visit ''went good.''

Kolb said some of the symptoms of a concussion don't begin to show up for him until the adrenaline of the football game begins to fade.

''When your adrenaline is going, when you are in the game, it covers up,'' he said. ''It tends to cover up some of the symptoms. As you start calming down, during or after the game, then, from my experience, a lot of things start to rush on you; the vision, the sensitivity to light and noise, and all those things.''

Kolb was making just his second start after being sidelined for six games with a right turf toe and bruise to the side of that same foot. The previous week, he had come on strong in the second half to help Arizona beat Dallas in overtime.

''It's beyond frustrating, just because we played a good second half there against the Cowboys and had a good week at practice,'' he said. ''We were ready to go out there and do what we ended up doing, which is great for our team. I wish I could have been a part of it, but they did a great job again of picking right up and rolling along.''

John Skelton relieved Kolb last Sunday and threw three touchdown passes as the Cardinals rallied to beat the 49ers 21-19.

Arizona has won three in a row and five of six. A victory Sunday would even the Cardinals' season record at 7-7 with two games to play.

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