Cardinals’ Quarterback Carson Palmer Suffers Torn ACL; Out for Season

The Arizona Cardinals received devastating news after Sunday’s game against the St. Louis Rams. Quarterback Carson Palmer has suffered a torn ACL in his left knee. Head coach Bruce Arians told the media on Monday, Palmer won’t have surgery for about two weeks. The swelling in Palmer’s knee must subside before surgery can be scheduled. Arians expects Palmer to return by late June or early July. There was no damage to other ligaments or tendons in Palmer’s knee. Palmer was injured on a sack by Rams safety Mark Barron in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game. The former Heisman Trophy winner from USC was just two days removed from signing a three-year contract extension with Cardinals worth a reported $50 million, including $20.5 million guaranteed.

In the 31-14 victory over the Rams, Palmer was 25-for-36 passing for 241 yards and an interception before his injury. He missed three games earlier this season with a damaged nerve in his throwing shoulder. The Cardinals won two of those three games with Drew Stanton starting at quarterback.

Injuries Have Curtailed Palmer’s Career

The Cardinals expect to go with Drew Stanton as their starting quarterback for the remainder of the year. In four games, Stanton completed 46 of 93 attempts for 614 yards, three touchdowns, zero interceptions, and an 81.6 passer rating. Arizona, under Arians, was playing some of the best football in the league this season. Palmer had thrown 11 touchdowns and was completing nearly 65% of his passes with dynamic receivers Larry Fitzgerald, Michael Floyd, and John Brown. The Cardinals were in first place in the NFC West with an 8-1 record. Now they’ll hope the talent surrounding Carson can sustain their winning ways. It’s unfortunate a devastating injury has curtailed Carson Palmer’s play again.

In 2006, with Palmer leading the Cincinnati Bengals to a playoff berth, Palmer tore ligaments in his left knee during his first playoff start. Specifically, Pittsburgh Steelers‘ Kimo von Oelhoffen tackled Palmer low on his first pass during the Steelers’ 31-17 victory in the AFC Wild Card game. Palmer tore the anterior cruciate and medial collateral ligaments in his knee. The damage was extensive and potentially career-ending. If one knee injury wasn’t enough, he’s also come back from a torn ligament in his elbow. The injury forced him to miss 11 games. Somehow, he’s been able to make it back and lead the Cardinals to playoff contention.

You Can Come Back From a Torn ACL

To sum up, Palmer was in the midst of a career renaissance, leading the Cardinals offense and his team towards a Super Bowl run. But now, after Carson Palmer suffered a torn ACL of his knee, he will need to try to rebuild his NFL career again. Given his injury history and will, there’s little doubt we will Carson Palmer back on the field again.