Andy Dalton won't need surgery on his broken right thumb.

Once the Bengals get through next Sunday's game at San Francisco with AJ McCarron as their starting quarterback, Dalton's possible return will be evaluated on a week-by-week basis, Marvin Lewis said.

"That's about as good an outcome right now that we could expect," Lewis said.

Lewis was quick to add that Dalton's recovery would not be based upon managing his pain.