‘It Was Awesome To Be Out There’ – A Thrilling Return to Action for Bengals QB AJ McCarron

CINCINNATI – While a strong sense of déjà vu — and not the good kind — may have been smacking Cincinnati Bengals fans in the face as they saw quarterback Jake Browning run off the field with a right thumb issue Sunday, AJ McCarron wasn’t feeling it.

It’s not that his memory failed him. He remembers every detail of Dec. 13, 2015, when Andy Dalton broke his thumb, forcing McCarron into action in the first quarter of a heated rivalry game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

That game eight years ago was about concern and the unknown.

AJ McCarron’s Return to Bengals Action Short but Special

Sunday was more about levity and the excitement of getting another chance, knowing full well it could be his last.

“It was different because I knew he was just cramping,” McCarron said. “But it was still great to be back out there. The crowd, the city, giving the ovation that they did, it felt awesome.”

It was McCarron’s first NFL snap since taking one late in the 2020 season finale for the Houston Texans, when he lined up as the personal protector in punt formation and caught the Tennessee Titans off guard with a 20-yard pass.

McCarron’s last pass from an offensive formation was in the 2019 regular-season finale, also against the Titans, when he went 21 of 36 for 225 yards with no touchdowns and an interception.

That was 1,441 days prior to Sunday.

“I didn’t know if I’d get another chance to play, even after they signed me (to the practice squad) in September,” McCarron said. “I’ve always had so much love for this city, and it was just awesome to be back out there.”

We are 3 days shy of the 8-year anniversary of Andy Dalton's broken thumb that brought on AJ McCarron.

McCarron is in for Browning.

— Jay Morrison (@ByJayMorrison) December 10, 2023

When Dalton broke his thumb in 2015, McCarron finished the game and went 2-1 as a starter to help the Bengals finish their run to the AFC North title. And he came within seconds of leading the franchise to its first postseason win in 25 years with a go-ahead touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 1:50 remaining in the game.

This relief stint was far shorter.

MORE: Cincinnati Bengals Depth Chart

McCarron entered the game to face 3rd-and-6 early in the fourth quarter and threw a checkdown to running back Trayveon Williams for a one-yard loss.

That would have been the end of his day as Browning would soon be back freshly hydrated by IV, except Indianapolis’ Isaiah McKenzie — the former Bills receiver notorious for saying the Divisional Round playoff loss to the Bengals last year would have been different if played in better weather — muffed Brad Robbins’ punt and Cincinnati rookie cornerback DJ Ivey recovered it.

“That was great to get back on the field, especially after coming in on 3rd-and-6 and having just two warmup throws after sitting in the cold all that time,” McCarron said. “But I felt confident, especially on the pass to Tee (Higgins). I put the ball right where I wanted. I thought it was a good ball. I saw the coverage the right way. It felt good.”

The pass to Higgins he referenced was, for a split second, a touchdown in the same corner of the same end zone where he hit Green for the go-ahead score in the playoff game against the Steelers, eliciting a near-seismic response from the crowd.

But again, McCarron downplayed the similarities of the situations, and not just because the touchdown to Higgins was negated by an offensive pass interference call.

“That one to A.J. was a true bench route into Cover 2, and this one, they played quarters,” McCarron said. “But yeah, similar in that it was a big target, and you just give him a chance. That’s what I tried to do.”

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