Cincinnati Bengals

Bengals' Andy Dalton adjusting to 'weird' role

Published Dec. 18, 2015 1:10 a.m. ET

foxsports

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton is hoping his team skips over the first round of the playoffs this year since it would give his broken right thumb an extra week to heal.

Dalton and the Bengals have lost in the opening round four straight years, and to bypass it this season, backup AJ McCarron will have to lead the way. Dalton is officially listed as week-to-week, but even he sounds reserved to the idea that a regular season return is not in the cards.

"I would love to win these next three and get a bye and as much time as we can get where I can heal up,” Dalton said per the Cincinnati Enquirer. "The timing isn't what I wanted it to be, or what anybody wanted it to be. But to hear the good news it could be week to week, it's one of those things, regardless of the situation it is what it is."

The Bengals can actually clinch that first-round bye with just two wins in their final three games -- just as long as one of them is against Denver in Week 16. Dalton, who hasn't missed a game since his sophomore season at TCU, is doing everything he can to help McCarron get up to speed with the offense.

“It’s weird, different,” Dalton said of watching instead of playing. “[McCarron's] done well. He’s spent a lot of time studying and making sure he’s on top of the game plan. He’s done a lot of good things. I’m just trying to help him as much as I can. He’ll be all right."

McCarron completed 22 of 32 passes for 280 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions in relief of Dalton last Sunday against Pittsburgh. The former Alabama quarterback missed most of his rookie season with a shoulder injury and doesn't exactly have history on his side when it comes to his alma mater.