Report: Bengals reach out to Ponder, Mallett following Dalton injury

With quarterback Andy Dalton not expected back on the field any time soon after fracturing his thumb against the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday, the Cincinnati Bengals have no choice but to go shopping on the free-agent quarterback market.

The Bengals have reached out to out-of-work passers Christian Ponder and Ryan Mallett as they look to replenish depth behind new starter AJ McCarron, Pro Football Talk reports.

Ponder was most recently a member of the Denver Broncos, but he spent little more than two weeks with the team before being released last week. Mallett was cut by the Houston Texans in October and hasn't latched on with a team since then.

The Bengals could also opt to promote Keith Wenning from the practice squad.