CINCINNATI (AP) — Andy Dalton has the cast off his passing hand, and coach Marvin Lewis says it’s possible he could be AJ McCarron’s backup when the Bengals host the Pittsburgh Steelers in the playoffs on Saturday night (8:15/CBS).
Dalton broke his right thumb while making a tackle in a 33-20 loss to the Steelers on Dec. 13. The fracture has healed enough to have the cast removed. Dalton said on Tuesday that he can move the thumb well, but he hasn’t tried to throw.
McCarron is preparing to start his fourth straight game in Dalton’s place. The last time an NFL quarterback with such little experience won a playoff game was 1979, when Gifford Nielsen led the Houston Oilers to a win in San Diego.
For their part, the Steelers aren’t ready to rule out running back DeAngelo Williams for the game.
Coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Williams is “day to day” after injuring his right leg in last weekend’s victory over Cleveland.
The 32-year-old Williams tied for the NFL lead with 11 rushing touchdowns while filling in for Le’Veon Bell, who is out for the season with a torn ligament in his right knee.
If Williams can’t play, the Steelers will rely heavily on Jordan Todman and Fitzgerald Toussaint as they prepare for the AFC North champion Bengals. Toussaint ran for 24 yards on 12 carries against the Browns and also caught a 2-point conversion. Todman has four carries for 22 yards in limited playing time this season.