Guard Tony Palmer of the Green Bay Packers underwent a cervical fusion operation last month for a neck injury that threatens his football career. The operation was performed Sept. 28 by Bob Watkins, a Los Angeles-based neurosurgeon who also performed a cervical fusion on Packers linebacker Johnny Holland in January 1993 for a neck injury in the C2-C3 level of the spine that ended his career. "There's cautious optimism," general manager Ted Thompson said Friday. "This will take a little time. The main thing is to make sure the kid's all right." Palmer, 24, was injured Sept. 16 blocking on a kickoff return against the New York Giants. He suffered no loss of feeling in his arms or legs. At the time, coach Mike McCarthy described the injury as "a small bone fracture" in his neck.