Carolina Panthers

Bengals lose Dalton to broken thumb; Seahawks rookie out

Published Dec. 14, 2015 1:18 a.m. ET

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Cincinnati will likely need to figure out how to win without Andy Dalton.

Seattle has to find another backup to running back Marshawn Lynch after losing rookie Thomas Rawls with a broken left ankle.

Dalton broke his right thumb after making a tackle following his interception to Pittsburgh defensive end Stephon Tuitt on a shovel pass in the first quarter of the Steelers' 33-20 victory Sunday. The Bengals quarterback was replaced by AJ McCarron.

It's Dalton's first injury since his first game as a rookie in 2011, when he missed half a game against Cleveland with an injured right wrist. He's been one of the NFL's most durable quarterbacks and led the NFL in passer rating heading into the game.

Dalton went to the locker room for an exam and returned to the field in a T-shirt with a cast on his right hand and wrist.

The Bengals also lost tight end Tyler Eifert, who was shaken up on the second series and ruled out after being evaluated for a concussion. Eifert led the league with 12 touchdown catches entering this week.

Rawls was injured in the first quarter of a 35-6 victory against Baltimore. On Seattle's opening drive, Rawls was hit behind the line and dropped for a 3-yard loss. He went into the game with 786 yards rushing and four touchdowns as the primary replacement for Lynch, who is recovering from last month's abdominal surgery.

Other key injuries from Sunday:

- Carolina cornerback Bene Benwikere is likely out for the season after breaking his left leg in the fourth quarter of a 38-0 win against Atlanta. Benwikere is the team's nickel back, but has been pressed into starting duty with Charles Tillman out the past four games with a knee injury.

Panthers tight end Greg Olsen injured his left knee, and running back Jonathan Stewart hurt his left ankle. Coach Ron Rivera said both could have returned, but didn't because the Panthers had such a big lead.

Olsen twisted his knee awkwardly while trying to catch a pass in the end zone near the end of the first half.

- Cleveland receiver Brian Hartline is out for the season after breaking a collarbone in a 24-10 win over San Francisco. He had eight catches for 107 yards when he got hurt, and the Browns were already missing receivers Andrew Hawkins and Taylor Gabriel because of concussions. Left guard Alex Boone of the 49ers left the game with a lower leg injury.

- Detroit tight end Brandon Pettigrew left with a knee injury in the second quarter and didn't return in a 21-14 loss to St. Louis.

- New York Jets rookie wide receiver Devin Smith was knocked out by a right leg injury in the third quarter of a 30-8 win over Tennessee. Smith missed most of training camp with broken ribs and a punctured lung after getting injured on a catch.

- Indianapolis quarterback Matt Hasselbeck left a 51-16 loss to Jacksonville late with a rib injury. There was no update on his condition after the game.

- Jaguars running back T.J. Yeldon injured his right ankle early and left in the third quarter with a right knee injury. He was on crutches after the game and declined comment.

- Green Bay cornerback Sam Shields left in the second quarter of a 28-7 victory against Dallas with a concussion. He hit his head on the ground at the sideline as he was making a sliding tackle. Shields had an interception in the end zone to stop a Cowboys drive in the first quarter.

- Washington tight end Derek Carrier injured his right knee in the first quarter of a 24-21 win over Chicago.

- Buffalo tight end Charles Clay didn't return after leaving in the first half with a back injury in a 23-20 loss to Philadelphia.

- Houston quarterback Brian Hoyer left in the fourth quarter and was evaluated for a concussion during a 27-6 loss to New England. He's already missed one game for a concussion this season. Coach Bill O'Brien said he didn't have more details on Hoyer's injury, but that it looked like he had a concussion.

- Patriots running back LeGarrette Blount injured his hip in the second quarter of a 27-6 win over Houston. He was listed as questionable but did not return.

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