The news wasn't good for Cincinnati Bengals fans on Sunday, but it wasn't all bad the day after either. While early reports suggested that franchise quarterback Andy Dalton would miss somewhere between four to six weeks, with the real timetable likely landing closer to the longer estimate, a report from early Monday afternoon suggests that Dalton's return could come quicker. Adam Schefter of ESPN reports that Dalton's injured thumb won't require surgery and there remains hope within the organization that he'll return for the playoffs. Per Ian Rapoport of NFL.com, Dalton even believes he could possibly return for Week 17.
My understanding is, #Bengals QB Andy Dalton believes a week 17 return is possible. But it's a bone and one can't guess how it heals.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) December 14, 2015
Dalton, a middling starter in the NFL prior to this season, had been putting together a career-year prior to his injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. On the season, Dalton has 3,250 yards and 25 touchdowns passing. He's also put together a passer rating of 106.3.
But if Dalton is really going to take the next step into the category for the league's elite signal-callers - and bring the Bengals into the conversation for the league's elite teams - he'll have to prove he can get the job done in the playoffs. And while the Bengals have not yet locked up a playoff spot, at 10-3 they're all but assured a ticket to the postseason.
It's generally ill-advised to go on the timetable a player suggests and since the Bengals will, in all likelihood, have had their playoff positioning decided by the time Week 17 rolls around, it's unlikely Dalton would see the field again this regular season.
But Cincinnati fans have to be encouraged by Schefter and Rapoport's report, because if Dalton can make it back for a first-round playoff game, the team's chances of avoiding a one-and-done postseason campaign for the fifth season in a row increase exponentially - hopefully.
