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CINCINNATI (AP) — Quarterback Andy Dalton scored on a keeper that completed Cincinnati's opening drive against the Chicago Bears on Saturday night, then left the game as a precaution because of a sore neck.
Dalton had players piled on top of him after his 1-yard touchdown dive. He got up and spiked the ball, then came to the sideline. The Bengals said he had a sore neck and wouldn't return.
"He's fine," coach Marvin Lewis said at halftime. "Taking him out was just precautionary."
The fifth-year quarterback didn't go for treatment. He stayed on the sideline with helmet off and talked to backup AJ McCarron and the receivers.
Dalton was 6 of 6 for 52 yards and the touchdown sneak, an encouraging performance following his two-interception game at Tampa Bay on Monday night. The Bengals had three turnovers in that game — Jeremy Hill also fumbled.
On Saturday, Dalton led the Bengals on a 16-play, 77-yard drive that took 9 minutes, 11 seconds and culminated in his sneak.
"We wanted to come out and set the tone right away after last week," Dalton said at halftime.
McCarron, who missed all of his rookie season with a sore passing shoulder, won the backup job last week. Working with the starting offense for the first time, he completed his first seven passes as the Bengals pulled ahead 21-3.
He kept the ball from his 31-yard touchdown pass to Marvin Jones, his first professional TD pass. The two Bengals quarterbacks were 12 of 12 for 139 yards in the first half. McCarron also completed his first pass in the third quarter before the streak ended with his throwaway under pressure.
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