Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton will visit his doctor Monday to see if his broken hand is healed up enough to be taken out of his cast. He is raring to get back into action and is hopeful it will happen “sooner rather than later.”
The visit Monday is key. When asked if the cast will come off, he responded in typical eager Dalton fashion.
“I’m hoping so. But again, it’s wait and see,” he said, via the Cincinnati Enquirer. “(The doctor has) got to check it out and make sure he feels that would be a good thing. But I tell you what, I’m ready to get out of the cast.”
The Bengals would love to get Dalton back for the playoffs, whether that’s in the wild card round or in the divisional round. The team is currently in position to play in the wild card round, being the No. 3 seed in the AFC after being taken down by the Denver Broncos last weekend.
There could be a delay for Dalton to come back, though, even after the cast comes off. There is no telling how the recovery process will go at this point, but the quarterback isn’t interested in taking the long road back.
“I’m thinking as soon as I can get back, I’ll be back,” Dalton said. “Whatever week that is, whatever time that is. I’m hoping it’s sooner than later. I’ll find out more on Monday.”
While Dalton waits, impatiently, the Bengals will be finishing out the regular season against their hated AFC North rival Baltimore Ravens, who shockingly took down the Pittsburgh Steelers last weekend.
A win Sunday at home against the Ravens, coupled with a loss by the Broncos against the San Diego Chargers, would land Baltimore back in the No. 2 spot in the AFC. Should this occur, then it’s not out of the question Dalton could come back for that game after the bye. He’s not likely to be ready for the wild card round but could be made available for the divisional round.