The blows just keep on coming for the Cincinnati Bengals. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, eight-year NFL starter Andy Dalton has played his last snap of 2018. Dalton suffered a thumb injury midway through Week 12 and never returned to action. While this injury ends his 2018 season, the quarterback should be fully recovered for the start of the 2019 season.

Bengals placed QB Andy Dalton on injures reserve.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 26, 2018

Andy Dalton Placed On Injured Reserve With Thumb Injury

Dalton’s first suffered his injury midway through Week 12’s 35-20 loss to the Cleveland Browns. The longtime Bengals starter wasn’t playing that well in the matchup, going 10/17 for 100 yards, one touchdown, and one interception. On the season, Dalton completed 61.9% of his passes for 2,566 yards, 21 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions.

Dalton first entered the league as a second-round pick by the Bengals back in 2011. Immediately taking over for Carson Palmer, Dalton led Cincinnati to an unexpected 9-7 playoff record and a postseason birth. So far in his Bengals career, Dalton has recorded 28,100 passing yards, 188 touchdowns, and 104 interceptions.

With Dalton down, starting quarterback duties will now belong to Jeff Driskel. Driskell initially entered the NFL as a sixth-round pick of the San Francisco 49ers back in 2016, but only saw regular season action in 2018. Coming in for the injured Dalton, Driskel completed 59% of his passes for 155 yards and one touchdown.

Additionally, the Bengals signed journeyman quarterback Tom Savage off waivers. Savage is currently on his third NFL team of 2018. The longtime Houston Texans quarterback joined the New Orleans Saints in training camp but didn’t make the final roster. However, he wasn’t out of work for long, as the San Francisco 49ers signed him in the wake of the Jimmy Garoppolo and C.J. Beathard injuries.

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