Bengals in no hurry to rush back QB Palmer

Oct 15, 2008 - 9:59 PM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- With the winless Cincinnati Bengals going nowhere, the possibility exists that the team could elect to shut down ailing quarterback Carson Palmer for the remainder of the season.

An inflamed right elbow has caused Palmer to miss two of Cincinnati's last three games, including last week's 26-14 loss to the New York Jets.

Ryan Fitzpatrick, who replaced Palmer last week, will start again on Sunday when the Bengals (0-6) host the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Palmer has elected to put off surgery, and Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis would not discuss a timetable for his potential return.

However, Cincinnati wide receiver Chad Johnson would endorse not playing the Bengals' franchise quarterback for the remainder of the season.

"I think (Palmer) should sit," Johnson said. "For (Palmer), we have next year."

Receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh echoed Johnson's sentiments.

"If we can string some things together and pile up some 'W''s here, maybe things would change," Houshmandzadeh said. "But with a quarterback, you've got to be as careful as you can in a situation like this. Carson has what - eight, nine years left to play? You just have to be smart."

Palmer missed his first game since 2004 when he sat out the Bengals' 20-12 loss to the Cleveland Browns in Week Four to rest the elbow.