Cincinnati Bengals' Andy Dalton 'playing the waiting game'

Andy Dalton has yet to resume practicing since breaking his right (throwing) thumb on Dec. 13, but the Cincinnati Bengals quarterback retains an optimistic outlook about his recovery.

"I feel all right," he said Thursday in an interview with ESPN. "It's a process. Obviously, the bone's gotta heal and all that kind of stuff. I'm getting some patience right now.

"The doctor said it's a normal progression. It's healing like it should. Just playing the waiting game now."

Dalton does not have a timetable for his return.

"I'm just going to let the process play itself out, and as soon as I can be back, I will be back," he said.

Dalton's backup, AJ McCarron, started last week at San Francisco and led the Bengals to 24-14 win over the 49ers. McCarron completed 15 of 21 passes for 192 yards and a touchdown with no interceptions.

"He played well," Dalton said. "He managed the game really well. He had some big plays in there, had some shots down the field that he hit. Just gotta keep that going."

In 13 games this season, Dalton has completed 66.1 percent of his passes for 3,250 yards with 25 touchdown passes and seven interceptions.

The Bengals play the Broncos in Denver on Monday, and a win would allow Cincinnati clinch the AFC North title and a first-round playoff bye.