TEMPE, Ariz. -- One day after losing in the NFC Championship Game, Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer said he will not play in this year's Pro Bowl.

Palmer told the Arizona Republic during the Cardinals' locker room cleanout Monday that he decided to withdraw from the Pro Bowl -- his first since 2006 -- in order to let his right index finger heal. He also said he won't need surgery.

Palmer's head coach supported the decision.

"That's the right thing to do," Bruce Arians said. "You don't need to take a chance with it in the Pro Bowl."

Arians reiterated his belief that Palmer's finger didn't affect his throwing in the last two playoff games.

"Watching him throw for the last two-and-a-half weeks, it really didn't," Arians said. "Had we had to play the first round, I think it was affecting him. It affected him a ton.

"I probably should not have played him against Seattle and let it heal a little bit more."