DaytonDailyNews.com

CINCINNATI — Even though Carson Palmer's rehab on his injured right elbow is going well and he continues to "cut it loose" with workout throws, the Bengals' quarterback was all but ruled out of playing in the final two games against the Cleveland Browns and Kansas City Chiefs.

"The healing process is going well, and we don't want to do anything to jeopardize that," head coach Marvin Lewis said on Monday. "We don't want to have somebody inadvertently run into him, or anything like that at this point, when we've waited so long and we are where we are with only two weeks to go."

Bottom line: No way is the club going to put its franchise quarterback in harm's way behind a struggling offensive line and have him risk further injury to his elbow or other body parts in a meaningless game.

Palmer's future

Realistically, the most Palmer can hope for the remainder of the season is to re-join his teammates in full-squad practice as he prepares for 2009.

"I watch him throw every day," Lewis said. "It would be fun for him to get back into the practice routine of being out there totally with the guys. We've got two weeks left. I'm not going to sit here and say Carson is going to play in the games, but he is doing well, and we have a chance to still progress him another step further and closer. Carson will continue to throw. We'll just see where he goes and what the doctors will allow him to do."

Palmer's goal: Strengthen his arm without surgery, regain his Pro Bowl form of 2005-06 and lead the Bengals in 2009 to only their second playoff berth in 19 seasons. The team has appeared in the postseason only once (2005) since the 1990 season.

Lacking killer instinct

Dissecting Sunday's 20-13 victory over the Washington Redskins, the Bengals had a chance to turn a thriller into a rout.

They reached Washington's 43- and 45-yard lines in the second and third quarter, and were forced to punt both times.

"We had a chance to put our foot right on the back of their head and run them out of the stadium, and we didn't do that," Lewis said. "We've got to get that kind of mentality. It'll be something in the future I'll be able to point to."

Winning back fans

Did the victory win back some fans?

"The fans who were here were great," Lewis said. "It was loud. That's an advantage when you play at home. Just like I said when we got started here (2003), we want this to be a fun place to come and spend the afternoon. I wish I could guarantee there was never going to be a sad day ... but we're going to do our best not to lose."

How much does it matter that some fans are considering giving up their season tickets?

"I can't control that," Lewis said.

A surprise gift

Redskins tailback Clinton Portis was surprised when Chad Ocho Cinco ran out of bounds and handed him the football, costing the Bengals a 15-yard penalty.

"I think he looked up and was shocked to see me," Portis said. "He just handed me the ball. All of a sudden, that got him a 15-yard penalty. The officials are watching everything."

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com.

Next game

Who: Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns

When: 1 p.m., Sunday, Dec. 21

TV: WHIO-TV (CBS, Channel 7)

Radio: WLW-AM (700), WTUE-FM (104.7)