© Sam Greene/The Enquirer / USA TODAY NETWORK

It may have only been for five snaps, but AJ McCarron was back under center playing quarterback for the Bengals for the first time in six years on Sunday. 

The 33-year-old threw a touchdown pass to Tee Higgins on a play that was called back due to a questionable offensive pass interference penalty. 

Jake Browning's thumb locked up and he couldn't throw the ball due to muscle cramping. That allowed McCarron to get on the field.

"Hear the crowd cheer and give me the welcome. It's just surreal. It's just awesome," McCarron told Elise Jesse. "I love playing for this organization, being in this city. Brought back a lot of great memories and I wish we could've had that touchdown right there."

The Bengals added McCarron to the practice squad earlier this season when Joe Burrow was playing through a calf strain. They signed him to the 53-man roster ahead of Cincinnati's win over Jacksonville on Monday Night Football. 

McCarron's wife Katherine and his three children attended Sunday's game, which made the moment even much more special.

More must-reads:

TODAY'S BEST
Pacers' Pascal Siakam leads team to Game 6 win vs. Knicks
Late goal sends Panthers to Eastern Conference Finals
Ex-teammate of Shohei Ohtani placed bets with same illegal bookmaker as interpreter 
Former Rams first-round pick retires from NFL after 11 seasons
Insider provides major injury update on Celtics' Kristaps Porzingis
Watch: Bruins strike first in Game 6 with incredible backhand goal
Dodgers make series of moves involving notable players
Giants rookie CF to undergo season-ending labrum surgery
Hurricanes not expected to re-sign defenseman, center
Paul Skenes makes incredible Wrigley Field history in second-career MLB start
Maple Leafs tab former Stanley Cup winner as new head coach
NFL insider expands on competition between Steelers QBs Russell Wilson, Justin Fields
NFL sets outrageous prices for Eagles-Packers Brazil game
Scottie Scheffler shoots improbable 66 after warming up for PGA Championship in a jail cell
Nuggets star has worrying comment about latest injury
Broncos 'very unlikely' to bring back former NFL interceptions leader
Greg Olsen offers broadcasting advice to Tom Brady
Yankees' Juan Soto reacts to Hal Steinbrenner contract talk
Mets star has theory about closer Edwin Diaz's recent struggles
Scottie Scheffler arrested, still makes PGA Championship tee time

Want more Bengals news?

Join the hundreds of thousands of fans who start their day with Yardbarker's Morning Bark, the best newsletter in sports.