CINCINNATI — The moment he was hit, Carson Palmer knew he was badly hurt.

The Pro Bowl quarterback tore a ligament in his left knee on his first pass Sunday, dooming the Cincinnati Bengals in their first playoff game in 15 years.

Now, the AFC North champions are wondering if he'll be back when next season rolls around.

Palmer tore the anterior cruciate ligament — the one that provides stability — during a 31-17 loss to Pittsburgh and will need reconstructive surgery. Typical recovery time is six to nine months. Athletes usually take more than a year to completely return to normal.

That's ominous for a team whose success hinges on the quarterback.

"He's young and he has to go through so much now, tearing his knee," receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh said. "It's just sad for that to happen. He was playing great, getting into his first Pro Bowl. It's such a big setback. He's arguably the MVP of our team."

Palmer led the NFL with a club-record 32 touchdown passes in only his second season as a starter. His first pass Sunday resulted in a 66-yard completion to Chris Henry — the longest completion in Bengals playoff history.

After he released the ball, Steelers nose tackle Kimo von Oelhoffen lunged into his left leg and wrapped it up, forcing it to bow ominously despite a protective brace.

"It was just a sickening feeling because I knew what it was and that my season was over," said Palmer, who was on crutches after the game.

He was taken off the field on a cart and replaced by backup Jon Kitna, who now figures prominently in the Bengals' offseason decisions.

Kitna led the Bengals to an 8-8 mark in Marvin Lewis' first season as head coach, then was the backup for the last two seasons, helping Palmer develop. Kitna is a free agent after the season, and his value to the Bengals just increased.

Palmer will need knee surgery and a lengthy rehabilitation. The Bengals are hoping he is recovered in time for training camp in July, but that's a little more than six months away. More than likely, he'll need a little more time before he's fully recovered.

The Bengals will have to make sure they have a proven backup in case Palmer isn't ready.

"I've never had an injury this serious in my career," Palmer said. "I know it's going to be a long road back, but it's a long way until the next training camp.

"I feel bad for what happened, for our team and for our fans. But at the same time, I'm excited thinking about next year."

Palmer was on the field for only two plays — a handoff and then the deep pass down the right sideline to Henry.

"I felt terrible for him," Kitna said. "The only chance I got to see him was at halftime, and that was briefly. It almost brought me tears going in there and seeing him. I consider him my best friend. I felt terrible for him, to have to go down that way."

Six plays after Palmer was hurt, Henry had to be helped off the field with an injured right knee. He was on the sideline on crutches in the second half.

In losing Palmer, the Bengals were forced to go on without the player most responsible for their AFC North championship and their return to the playoffs for the first time in 15 years.

Palmer was so dependable in his second season as a starter that the club extended his contract through 2014 before the playoffs began. He started all 16 regular-season games this season, but played sparingly in the final one as a precaution.

Palmer's injury changed the course of the playoff game, but Lewis refused to dwell on it.

"Gee whiz," Lewis said. "The guy got hurt. Let it go. There's nothing you can do. You can't get it back. To sit there and baby and cry like their quarterback did — ridiculous."

Lewis evidently was referring to the way Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger complained after Bengals linebacker Odell Thurman hit him during their game in Pittsburgh last month.

Roethlisberger was disappointed when Palmer got hurt.

"You watch it happen, my thoughts and prayers go out to Carson," Roethlisberger said. "You could see Kimo was stumbling going down. He's not that kind of player. Carson's a great player. Any time you lose a great player like him, it's devastating."

Several Bengals yelled at von Oelhoffen, who spent his first six seasons in Cincinnati and still counts some of the Bengals as friends.

"Guys were infuriated," right tackle Willie Anderson said. "But I know him. He's not a dirty player. His momentum just kept him going into Carson. It wasn't a dirty play."

The nose tackle explained himself on the field.

"They had every right to be upset. They lost their best player," von Oelhoffen said. "I hope Carson gets better. My apologies to him and his family.

"I was worried about Carson. That kid deserved to play this game."