Esiason: Palmer May Be Headed to Surgery

The Bengals have downplayed Carson Palmer's injury all week, saying he just had some elbow soreness that shouldn't be a problem. So when they announced that Palmer won't play today, it came as somewhat of a shock.

After missing practice on Friday, Palmer had said that he'd be fine to play on Sunday.

"It was just a rest day," Palmer told the Cincinnati Enquirer after practice Friday. "I'm completely confident in what we're doing. The doctors decided the best thing to do was to be rested and fully healthy for Sunday, and I'll be ready to roll on Sunday."

But Boomer Esiason, the last good Bengals quarterback before Palmer, thinks that the Bengals are still underplaying what's happened to Palmer. On CBS' NFL Today, Esiason pointed to a play against the Giants where he believed the injury occurred, and then said he was worried about Palmer's long-term prognosis.

"What I'm worried about are the long term effects. I have to be wondering whether or not surgery is in his immediate future."

Elbow surgery for a quarterback, like a pitcher, usually involves a lengthy rehabilitation period, so if Esiason's right, the Bengals already miserable season could be done before October arrives.