The Cincinnati Bengals are off to a 0-3 start this season and could desperately use some help on offense, but their most dynamic player is not expected back for at least three more games.
AJ Green will not play on Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers and will remain out for at least the two games after that, ESPN’s Adam Schefter reports. Green has been recovering from torn ligaments in his ankle that he suffered before the season.
Cincinnati’s wait for the return of Pro Bowl WR A.J. Green will continue on….and potentially on and on.
Green will not play Monday night against the Steelers, and he is not expected to play at least the next two weeks, either, against Arizona and at Baltimore, per sources.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 30, 2019
The original timetable placed on Green’s recovery was six to eight weeks, which would have meant he would return at the beginning of October. It sounds like that has been pushed to the middle or end of the month, at the earliest.
Green took a positive step about two weeks ago when he was able to get rid of his walking boot, but the Bengals are not going to rush him back. The 31-year-old only played in nine games last season due to injury, so they likely want to make sure he is 100 percent healthy before he returns.
By the time Green comes back, the Bengals could very well be out of playoff contention. While Green will certainly give the passing game a boost, Cincinnati’s roster lacks talent and is one of the worst in the NFL. Green’s contract is set to expire after the season, so he probably won’t want to risk playing before he is ready, either.
