Is Andy Dalton out for the season?
Andy Dalton is out with a broken thumb, and it could be the season.
The Cincinnati Bengals were ready to clinch the AFC North against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday afternoon, and then a complete disaster happened. Cincinnati watched Andy Dalton go down with a broken thumb on his throwing hand and will be out “for a bit,” according to head coach Marvin Lewis.
While Lewis won’t confirm a timeline, it certainly sounds like bad news. Cincinnati also lost to Pittsburgh and while it will likely still win the division with A.J. McCarron at the helm, the Bengals are now looking at a very low probability of earning a BYE week in the AFC playoffs.
No question thumb fracture means #Dalton is out next week
— David J. Chao - ProFootballDoc (@ProFootballDoc) December 13, 2015
Can't grab ball to throw
Earliest return 2-4 wks@Bengals
https://t.co/VbH8m3cbmm
Marvin Lewis says Dalton out “for a bit.” Definitely out next week. On timeline: “I can’t heal bones.”
— Paul Dehner Jr. (@pauldehnerjr) December 13, 2015
Without Dalton, it is hard to see the Bengals doing anything in the postseason. It remains to be seen how long Dalton is out for, but if it goes beyond three weeks, Cincinnati is in major trouble.
The injuries didn’t stop with Dalton, either. Tight end Tyler Eifert sustained a concussion and had to leave the game. Eifert will go through the NFL concussion protocol. Eifert is leading all tight ends with 12 touchdowns.