Bengals rookie QB A.J. McCarron looking good in pregame warmups

Cincinnati Bengals rookie quarterback A.J. McCarron, taken in the fifth round during the 2014 NFL draft, threw a handful of passes during pregame warmups on Sunday. Per Coley Harvey with ESPN, McCarron launched one football 45 yards into the end zone.

#Bengals out for early warmups. Rookie QB AJ McCarron (still on NFI list) has been throwing. Just threw 45yds across field into end zone

— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) October 5, 2014

Arm looks good. #Bengals contend it isn't, though, so we'll see. He's on non-football injury list until after next week. Then, decision time

— Coley Harvey (@ColeyHarvey) October 5, 2014

The decision is: Put McCarron on season-ending PUP, the 53-man roster, or waive him. We don't see the second option at this stage. Cincinnati could risk the practice squad if they want to put him through waivers -- the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills say, "go ahead, we'd love to develop a future quarterback at virtually no cost."

However, Cincinnati doesn't have to make a decision any time soon.

Per the CBA, and assuming that NFI (Non-football Injury) is identical to PUP (save for when the injury occurred and definitions on paragraph five salaries), if McCarron isn't active after week six, the Bengals have a six-week window to make a decision on the above-mentioned choices. If McCarron starts practicing after week six, the team has a three-week window after that moment to add him to the 53-man roster or place him on season-ending IR.