Andy Dalton named starting QB for Bengals again
The Cincinnati Bengals may decide to move on from Andy Dalton after the season, but the quarterback has not taken his last snap for the franchise.
On Monday, Bengals head coach Zac Taylor told reporters that Dalton will start in Week 13 over Ryan Finley. The team had originally benched Dalton in favor of Finley so they could evaluate the fourth-round pick out of NC State, and apparently they have seen all they need to see.
Finley completed just over 47 percent of his passes in three games and threw for 474 yards, two touchdowns and two interceptions. It can’t be a good sign that the Bengals decided to bench him again in favor of a quarterback they may look to part ways with this offseason, though perhaps they don’t want to shake the rookie’s confidence any more given how terrible their roster is.
Dalton was benched prior to Cincinnati’s Week 9 game against the Baltimore Ravens. He will now get an opportunity to lead the team to its first win of the season at home against the New York Jets. The 32-year-old has thrown for 2,252 yards, nine touchdowns and eight interceptions this season.
While Dalton is signed through next season, his future with the team is in doubt. The Bengals are in line to have the No. 1 overall pick in the draft, which would put them in a position to draft LSU’s Joe Burrow. Should the Bengals decide to shop Dalton in trade talks after the season, there will reportedly be a decent market for him.
