Andy Dalton’s Thumb Injury Won’t Require Surgery, Could Return For Playoffs

Update:

Adam Schefter reports that doctors determined that Bengals QB Andy Dalton‘s fractured thumb won’t require surgery.

• Ian Rapoport mentions that there’s hope Dalton will be able to return for the playoffs.
• According to Rapoport, Dalton believes he could return for Week 17’s game. Although, but this will obviously depend on he heals.

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ESPN’s Bob Holtzman is now reporting that Andy Dalton‘s fractured thumb is likely season-ending.

As of now, Dalton’s best case scenario would be for him to return in time for the playoffs.

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Bob Holtzman of ESPN reports that while there’s currently no timetable for Bengals QB Andy Dalton to return from a thumb fracture, the “feeling” in the locker room after the game was that it’s likely a season-ending injury.

• Adam Schefter mentions that there’s a real chance we won’t see Dalton compete in the playoffs.

Dalton is scheduled to undergo further test on Monday and will meet with a specialist, but he’s expected to miss at least next week’s game.

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Andy Dalton told the Bengals’ radio network that he has a fracture in his right thumb and will see a surgeon on Monday for consultation, per John Kryk.

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Bengals HC Marvin Lewis told reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Steelers that starting QB Andy Dalton will be “out a bit,” per Aditi Kinkhabwala.

• Jason La Canfora believes we may not see Dalton again until the playoffs.
• However, Lewis did say that Dalton is not out for the season, and they’ll need to movee forward with A.J.  McCarron, per Kinkhabwala.

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Bengals QB Andy Dalton returned to the sideline with a cast on his throwing hand.

Former NFL physician David Chao mentions that the only way for Dalton to play next week would be if he suffered just a mild sprain. However, teams don’t apply a cast for a mild thumb sprain, so you can expect Dalton to miss some time.

According to Chao, Dalton would miss multiple weeks if sustained either a fracture or a ligament tear to his thumb.

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The Cincinnati Bengals announced that QB Andy Dalton will not return to Sunday’s game after he suffered a thumb injury in the first quarter.

Dalton hurt his thumb while trying to make a tackle on Steelers DL Stephon Tuitt after he threw a bad interception in the red zone.

A.J. McCarron has entered the game for the Bengals.

Dalton, 28, is in the second year of his seven-year, $97.09 million contract that includes $17 million guaranteed. He’ll make a base salary of $3 million this season and another $10.5 million in 2016.

Entering today’s game, Dalton had thrown for 3,191 yards while completing 66.1 percent of his passes to go along with 25 touchdowns and six interceptions over the course of 12 games for the Bengals. Pro Football Focus has him rated as the No. 6 quarterback out of 38 qualifying players.

We’ll have more regarding Dalton’s injury as the news is available.