The Arizona Cardinals suffered a number of key injuries in 2014. Darnell Dockett was lost in training camp. Andre Ellington was hampered with foot problems all season. Larry Fitzgerald had a knee injury. Matt Shaughnessy went down with a knee injury. Patrick Peterson learned he is diabetic.
But the most devastating injury was losing Carson Palmer to a torn ACL. The Cardinals were on a roll and he was having one of his most effective seasons as a pro.
How will he do in 2015? There is a lot of optimism because of how he played in 2014 before the injury.
In fact, Palmer is one of eight players listed as a possible 2015 Comeback Player of the Year candidate, according to SB Nation's James Brady. Palmer is included with players like NaVorro Bowman, Robert Griffin, Sam Bradford and Kiko Alonso.
Palmer sure has had some career, hasn't he? The 11-year veteran had a quietly productive career with the Cincinnati Bengals when the team brought in Andy Dalton and he left for the Oakland Raiders. After two years there, he joined the Arizona Cardinals and had a solid 2013 campaign. Palmer was on fire in the first part of 2014 as well, completing 62.9 percent of his passes for 1,626 yards, 11 touchdowns and three interceptions in six games.
Unfortunately, shortly after signing a three-year contract extension with the Cardinals, Palmer tore his ACL and went on injured reserve. At his age and coming off that kind of injury, it's anyone's guess as to how long Palmer has left in the NFL. But if he can come back and play at the same level he was before the injury, he'll have that team competitive and maybe a comeback player of the year award to his name.
Palmer is in a great spot. The Cardinals have Super Bowl aspirations in 2015 and Palmer will perhaps be the biggest factor in whether or not they can reach that goal. That would put him in position to be able to earn this recognition.
Of the guys listed by Brady -- Palmer, Bowman, Alonso, Griffin, Bradford, Victor Cruz and Nick Foles -- who do you think is the most likely to win the award in 2015?