At some point White Ryan Finley Jersey , we have to marvel at how the Cincinnati Bengals are even at 5-3 right now. Issues on the defense aside, the immense amount of injuries to critical players has been borderline outrageous.Every NFL team that has an established starting quarterback walks the fine line of the risk of injury to their signal-caller. With the new rules protecting the position, the risk is lessened, but one fluke play can dramatically change the course of a season. The Bengals know this all too well.Cincinnati is in a good state at the position with Andy Dalton at the helm and he came into Week 9 tied for third in touchdown passes. But, most fans remember what happened in his MVP-like 2015 season, where Dalton missed the final four contests, including the heartbreaking Wild Card loss. Dalton has also been one of the more durable quarterbacks in the league. Currently, behind Dalton at the backup quarterback spot is the enigmatic Jeff Driskel. The third-year player has a lot of athleticism and upside, but he may be nothing more than a career backup in the NFL. Recently, the Arizona Cardinals released veteran quarterback and former No. 1 overall pick, Sam Bradford. Might he be a logical option to back up Dalton for the remainder of 2018?There is one major issue with Bradford and his playing career going forward, though. The health of his left knee is apparently not in great shape:Yes, we realize that the team may have more pressing needs at tight end, offensive line and wide receiver at the moment, but quarterback remains the most important position on a football team. Let’s be clear on a few things here while exploring this hypothetical:1.) Dalton has played some of the best football in his professional career. In fact, one could argue that this is second-finest season under center behind 2015. A Bradford signing is not a call to replace Dalton as the starter by any means Joe Mixon Jersey , but rather a contingency option should No. 14 suffer an unfortunate injury with the Bengals still in the playoff hunt.2.) The Bengals could be at a crossroads in the very near future, in terms of a decision of the direction of the season should Dalton get injured (we hate even continuing to talk about this scenario, by the way). With A.J. Green’s future for the season up in the air at the moment, losing a starting quarterback could put this campaign in a quick tailspin. So, do you let it spiral out of control, hope for another high pick and then make a possible coaching change? Or, do you find a possible stopgap under center and try to scrape together wins, as some of these guys get healthy?3.) While Bradford isn’t probably high on a fan’s wish list, we have to remember that the Bengals let the trade deadline go by without making a move. So, their options are very limited at this point. 4.) Bradford will need to be willing to come into a situation where he’s likely to never see a significant snap this year. Speaking tongue-in-cheek, most have labeled Bradford “the master of free agency” and/or the luckiest guy to ever play in the NFL. Sam Bradford’s career statistics:Seasons: 9Games played/started: 83Starting record: 34-48-1Rating: 84.5Touchdowns: 103Interceptions: 61Passing yards: 19,449Completion percentage: 62.5And just for good measure:Career earnings: $130,022,863Reasons for bringing him to Cincinnati:Solidifying the backup spot: As we mentioned, if the Bengals feel that they are still close to a playoff berth and something happens to Dalton, nobody is certain about Driskel’s ability to lead the squad. Sure William Jackson Jersey , the Bengals obviously like him and he’s flashed in the preseason, but that has come largely against backups. If something were to happen to Dalton, they could pass the torch on to Bradford, who, if Cincinnati’s skill positions return soon, may have the most weapons he’s ever had at his disposal. A contingency plan for continued competitiveness: This is pretty self-explanatory. If Green, Giovani Bernard, John Ross and Tyler Kroft all come back to play and contribute, this team still has realistic playoff chances (especially with Dalton continuing to be in the lineup). A veteran like Bradford could come in and continue to be effective if called upon this season. The AJ McCarron example: One could argue that this plays into both the pro-Driskel or pro-Bradford sides, but as we mentioned before, Cincinnati was in this predicament a few years ago. The difference between McCarron and Driskel was that the former was a National Champion and a guy who some believed had fringe starting ability, whereas there are no rumblings of that with Driskel. When McCarron came in for Dalton at the end of 2015, he finished with a 2-2 record (including the postseason) but he was mere seconds away from being 4-0. Aside from McCarron playing relatively well, he also leaned on a stacked roster. While the 2018 team isn’t as loaded (especially with the injuries), Bradford will have talent around him. ATLANTA (AP) — The Cincinnati Bengals had no reason to panic when they trailed the Atlanta Falcons by five points with about four minutes remaining.That was plenty of time for Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton and his top targets, Tyler Boyd and A.J. Green.Dalton’s 13-yard touchdown pass to Green with 7 seconds remaining capped an impressive drive that lifted Cincinnati to a 37-36 win over the Falcons on Sunday.“We didn’t flinch Tyler Boyd Jersey ,” Dalton said. “We just kept going. That’s what you need to be a really good team and to be a good offense.”Giovani Bernard ran for 69 yards and two touchdowns for Cincinnati (3-1), which retained at least a share of the AFC North lead.Dalton completed four passes to Boyd, including two on fourth-down plays, as he moved the Bengals 75 yards on 16 plays in about four minutes. He saved the game’s biggest pass for Green.Green, the former University of Georgia star making his first return to the state of Georgia, made a diving catch on a corner route in the right side of the end zone to cap the drive.“You’ve got to make the play when your number is called,” Green said. “My number was called.”Green said he slid to make sure he remained in bounds. He had four catches for 78 yards.Dalton completed 29 of 41 passes for 337 yards , three touchdowns and one interception.Bengals coach Marvin Lewis said it’s only fitting his team enjoys some last-minute success.“Damn if we hadn’t had enough of being on the other side of it,” Lewis said.Matt Ryan threw three scoring passes, including two to rookie Calvin Ridley , for the Falcons (1-3).The Falcons have scored more than 30 points in three straight games but won only one of the three.Ryan, the 2016 NFL MVP, has thrown eight touchdown passes in the past two weeks and has 10 through four games after throwing only 20 in 2017.Falcons coach Dan Quinn said his team lacks the instinct needed “to close the door” with a lead. “We’re going to develop that instinct,” he said. “We do not have it as we need it right now.”Here are some takeaways from the Bengals-Falcons game:EIFERT INJURYThe Bengals’ celebration was tempered by the loss of tight end Tyler Eifert to what appeared to be a season-ending injury. He had four catches for 38 yards, including a 15-yard scoring catch in the first quarter, before suffering a gruesome lower right leg injury early in the third quarter.Eifert Nick Vigil Jersey , the team’s third-leading receiver entering the game, caught a 2-yard pass and was tackled by De’Vondre Campbell and Jack Crawford. Eifert brought his hands up to his helmet as he was on his back in obvious pain. His leg stabilized by the medical staff, Eifert received encouragement from teammates before he was carted off the field.RECORD-SETTING ROOKIERidley is the first NFL rookie with six touchdown catches in his first four games. The total is especially impressive because Ridley didn’t have a catch in the Falcons’ opener at Philadelphia.ROAD KINGSThe Bengals have enjoyed the strong start despite playing three of their first four games on the road.“We knew it was going to be tough sledding,” Lewis said. “Not as good as we hoped but we earned this. It won’t matter if we don’t take care of business the rest of the way.”SAD SACKSFalcons second-year defensive end Takk McKinley had three sacks , giving him five for his season. His emergence is a bright spot for a defense obviously struggling to replace injured safeties Keanu Neal and Ricardo Allen, who are lost for the season, and linebacker Deion Jones, who must miss at least eight games.“I think all three of our (losses), the defense had a chance to get them off the field and win it for the team,” McKinley said. “We’ll get it going. I’m not going to say I’m not too worried, but the team we’ve got here, we’ll get it rolling.”MENDINGEach team was without its top running back. Devonta Freeman missed his third straight game for Atlanta with a sore right knee. Mixon was held out for the second straight week for the Bengals after having debris removed from his right knee.Mixon showed he’s healing well when he ran down the sideline to celebrate Green’s catch late in the game.