The Facts: Dalton has been cleared to participate in the offseason workout program, according to Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com.

Diehards Line:As the Redzone.org reminded readers, Dalton missed the final five games with torn ligaments in his thumb. There wasn't much concern over the injury, and he'll get in a full offseason with new coach Zac Taylor. Signed through 2020, Dalton is in a make-or-break year with the Bengals. Now 31 years old, Dalton has been the Bengals' starting QB since 2011 and has played well at times but has shown little evidence that he is the kind of elite quarterback that can lead the team out of the extreme mediocrity they have been mired in for years. An offensive-minded coach might help. Per Hobson, the offense finally got the playbook, but not much can be made of it yet except it is clearly out of the West Coast school and with five of his eight seasons under Jay Gruden and Hue Jackson, Dalton is quite familiar with the concepts. But like he said Tuesday, Taylor’s version is going to have a different spin. “We can get lined up. We’ve got the formations,” Dalton said with a laugh. “We’re not ready for the snap yet.”