NFL Note - Cincinnati Bengals Dalton, Andy

QB Andy Dalton does not expect his thumb injury to affect his preparations for next season. Dalton, who underwent season-ending surgery earlier this week on his right thumb, told the Athletic that the injury will not prevent him from being ready to throw for the start of organized team activities in April. The veteran quarterback reportedly had the procedure to repair torn ligaments in the thumb.

Dalton, who also broke the thumb during the postseason in 2015, said he wants to make sure the injury is fully healed. "There's no reason to rush anything," Dalton said. "It's kind of the same thing when it happened last time, it was like 'OK, you could be playing in the next round of the playoffs or don't touch a football for a couple months.

'".