Nov 9, 2014; Glendale, AZ, USA; Arizona Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer (3) lays on the ground with a left knee injury during the second half against the St. Louis Rams at University of Phoenix Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
Carson Palmer tears ACL for second-time in career against the St. Louis Rams November 9, 2014
The heart and soul of the Cardinals offense no doubt goes through quarterback Carson Palmer. Palmer, who was given a new three-year $50 million contract on November 7th, went out and tore his ACL for the second time in his career two days later against the Rams.
Not only had Palmer gone down on a non-contact play, it was a re-injury of the same ACL he tore with the Cincinnati Bengals. The story behind the ligament replacement itself was heart-wrenching but also to lose your leader for the season, a season in which the Cardinals were 9-1 at the time, was too much to handle.
The Cardinals already had lost a number of players to injury in 2014. The last thing they could afford was a season-ending injury to their starting quarterback.
The fears of the Cardinals being done unfortunately came true. They went 2-4 down the stretch without Palmer and with the absence of backup quarterback Drew Stanton as well, they took a quick exit from the 2014 playoffs.