The Cincinnati Bengals’ chances of reaching the playoffs were reduced further on Monday, when the team announced that quarterback Andy Dalton was placed on injured reserve with a thumb injury.
The team did not disclose the specifics of Dalton’s injury, but NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that Dalton suffered torn ligaments in the thumb on his throwing hand. Dalton is done for the season, and it is unclear at this point whether Dalton will require surgery.
The Bengals are 5-6 and have lost three games in a row following Sunday’s 35-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns. With just five games remaining, the Bengals were a long shot to make the playoffs even if Dalton had been available.
Jeff Driskel, who replaced Dalton against the Browns, will make his first NFL start in Sunday’s game against the Denver Broncos.
Driskell was 17 of 29 for 155 yards, one touchdown and no interceptions against the Browns in the most extensive playing time of his career. For the season he has completed 58.6 percent of his passes, with one TD and no interceptions.
He was a sixth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers in the 2016 NFL Draft, but he did not play in an NFL game until this season.
In a related move, the Bengals claimed quarterback Tom Savage off waivers from the 49ers.
The 49ers had waived Savage over the weekend, and presumably were going to re-sign him this week. But the Bengals scooped him up before the 49ers could act.
The Bengals also have quarterback Connor Cook on the practice squad.
Dalton finished the season completing 226 of 365 passes (61.9 percent) for 2,566 yards and 21 touchdowns with 11 interceptions.
