The Cincinnati Bengals have experienced a nightmare 0-8 start to the 2019 season. After losing 24-10 at home to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the franchise decided to make a move that surprised many.
The Bengals benched long-time starter Andy Dalton in favor of rookie Ryan Finley on Tuesday, informing their starter for the past eight and a half seasons on his birthday of his new role as the team’s backup quarterback.
Dalton, an NFL Pro Bowl selection in 2011, 2014, and 2016, simply hasn’t been very effective for Cincinnati in 2019. The 32-year-old has thrown for only 9 touchdowns as opposed to 8 interceptions in the season’s first 8 games.
His 79.2 quarterback rating is the worst mark of his career, and the lowest mark he has produced since his rookie season.
Rather than decide to continue to back their long-time starter, Cincinnati looked towards the future in naming Finley their new starting quarterback. The 2019 fourth-round pick will make his NFL debut when the Bengals travel to Baltimore after this weekend’s bye.
The Bengals did not move Dalton before the NFL’s 4:00 pm trade deadline on Tuesday, meaning that he will stick with the team until at least the end of this nightmare season.
