Cincinnati Bengals Impressed With QB AJ McCarron’s Development

Could young quarterback A.J. McCarron eventually steal the Cincinnati Bengals' starting job from veteran QB Andy Dalton? Members of the Bengals’ coaching staff believe McCarron has the potential to do just that, a report said.

“While he's still afflicted by some rookie mistakes, the coaches there now believe he's fully capable of becoming a starting-quality player. And with his shoulder healed, McCarron is throwing the ball better than he ever has, showcases top-notch pocket presence and -- as you would expect from a guy who led Alabama to back-to-back national championships -- is displaying that the NFL stage isn't too big for him,” Albert Breer wrote on the NFL's official website.

Some reports after the Bengals organized team activities have stated that McCarron “has solidified his status” as the No. 2 quarterback on the Bengals' roster because of his major improvement in the offseason. A Heisman Trophy runner-up in 2013, the 24-year-old McCarron helped Alabama to back-to-back consensus national titles, in 2011 and 2012 and another championship in 2009.

Dalton is a two-time NFL Pro Bowler, making the team in 2011 and 2014. He has been with the Bengals since being selected in the second round of the 2011 NFL Draft.