Report: Bengals QB Andy Dalton won’t need surgery on injured thumb

Andy Dalton threw an interception on an ill-advised shovel pass, then left the game with a thumb injury. His timeline for return is unknown.

Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton does not need surgery on his injured right thumb, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

Dalton told reporters after Sunday’s loss to the Steelers after that he fractured the thumb on his throwing hand and would see a specialist on Monday. 

Head coach Marvin Lewis added that he didn’t expect the quarterback to be done for the season, saying that Dalton would be “out for a bit.” ESPN’s Bob Holtzman reports, however, the injury is “likely a season-ender.”

Dalton was injured when threw an interception on an attempted shovel pass during the first half. He made the tackle on the play, but was then taken to the locker room after the turnover to have the thumb on his throwing hand examined. Dalton was soon ruled out for the game.

Dalton is having the best season of his career this year, throwing for 25 touchdowns with a passer rating of 107.4 entering Sunday. A.J. McCarron is the Bengals’ backup quarterback.

Andy Dalton is out for the day after injuring his thumb on this play. #PITvsCIN https://t.co/z5YN4hgUGP

— NFL (@NFL) December 13, 2015

If ruled out for next week’s game against the San Francisco 49ers, Dalton would miss the first start of his career.