Dalton suffered the injury Sunday against the Steelers while making a tackle after throwing an interception in the first quarter.
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Once the contest got going between the arch rivals in Cincinnati, the shoving continued and Bengals started dropping like flies, included among them quarterback Andy Dalton (thumb), tight end Tyler Eifert (concussion), safety Geege Iloka (groin), and linebacker Vontaze Burfict for a variety of reasons throughout the game.
The Bengals hope Dalton will be back this season, depending on how he heals.
The (8-5) Steelers now trail the (10-3) Bengals by two games in the AFC North with three weeks remaining in the season.
After Dalton was forced from the game with a thumb injury, Pittsburgh allowed McCarron to find A.J. Green for a 66-yard touchdown catch when Antwon Blake and Mike Mitchell were caught out of position.
Dalton, who will miss at least one game, was meeting with a hand specialist Monday to determine the extent of the injury.
On the second play of the second half McCarron’s pass was intercepted and returned 23-yards for a touchdown by Steelers’ CB William Gay.
It’s possible these teams meet in the playoffs, setting up what could be the most bitterly contested game the Steelers have played since the AFC Championship game against Baltimore after the 2008 season.
FOX19 NOW will continue to update this story with the latest. When the playoffs start, its anyone’s game. We got to get you healthy. The fifth-round pick in 2014 missed his rookie season with a sore passing shoulder, but played well enough during the preseason to win the job as Dalton’s backup. That’s because Oakland’s Khalil Mack produced five sacks in the second half of a 15-12 win against Denver and Brock Osweiler, who called the defender’s performance “phenomenal” and “tremendous”.
When asked about bringing in a veteran quarterback, Lewis said, “Stay tuned”, which indicates they’d like to back up McCarron with a guy that has some game experience. At worst, he would be done for the regular season, with the slim possibility of returning for some part of the playoffs. We got down there and kicked some field goals.
“Everybody knows where we’re going”, Jackson said. Fans of viral videos will remember that time Brent Musburger went insane on live television for McCarron’s now-wife, Katherine Webb. If the Bengals lose out and the Steelers win out, the Bengals get a wild card if the Chiefs or Jets lose at all.
“A lot was made this week of them being able to clinch the division and get into the playoffs”, said Ben Roethlisberger, who improved to 19-4 in National Football League games in his native Ohio.
AJ McCarron becomes the starter and is the only other quarterback on the active roster. The Bengals were looking to add a quarterback with Dalton sidelined.
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“Andy will be out for a bit”, Lewis said.
