Three previous QB injuries that could project Steelers Roethlisberger’s future

Carson Palmer: 2008 Elbow Injury

In 2008, the Bengals were coming off of a second consecutive season of missing the playoffs since taking the division crown in 2005. They seemed to have all of the pieces there for a rebound.

They still had their star receivers, backfield, a rebuilt offensive line, and solid defensive personnel. They also had their starting quarterback Carson Palmer entering his third season since his near career-ending knee injury.

However, three weeks into the season, the Bengals drop to 0-3 against the Giants with Palmer suffering an elbow injury. He started only one more game and would miss the rest of the year to rehabilitate a torn elbow ligament (the birth of pre-Fitzmagic Ryan Fitzpatrick.)

In this case, Palmer decided to forgo Tommy John surgery and elected to rehabilitate naturally with rest. This ended up being not the worst decision as the Bengals rebounded the following year.

Palmer had a solid season in his return throwing 21 touchdowns to 13 interceptions while leading the Bengals back to playoffs. Unfortunately, this rebound was short-lived in Cincinnati.

Palmer would go on to be traded to Oakland after his 2011 retirement controversy and wouldn’t return to true full form until 2015 under Bruce Arians’ Arizona Cardinals; a season in which he tossed over 30 touchdowns for the first time since 2005.

He lasted 1.5 more seasons before retiring after yet another season-ending injury in 2017.

Carson Palmer’s elbow injury and rehabilitation took time for him to return to his 2005 form–speaking from only a statistics standpoint. He still was able to sling the ball around after this injury when he returned in 2009.

The big difference between him and Ben? Carson Palmer was 8 years younger than Ben is now when he went through his rehabilitation.