Wide Receiver A.J. Green Could Be Playing His Final Days In Cincinnati

By Jordan Long

The Cincinnati Bengals are preparing to take on the Pittsburgh Steelers.  No matter what happens for the final 3 games of the year, they will miss the postseason for the 5th year in a row.  Once the season is over, they will have a decision to make on wide receiver A.J. Green.   He is going to be a free agent at the end of the year.

                Green is finishing his 10th year in the NFL.  He didn’t play at all last year because of an ankle injury.  That didn’t matter to the Bengals as they slapped the franchise tag on him for 2020.  It kept him in Cincinnati for this season, even though they had to pay him $17.9 million.  They were hoping he would be a large target for rookie quarterback Joe Burrow.   Burrow suffered an ACL and MCL tear in week 11.

                In midst of one of the worst seasons for the Cincinnati Bengals in recent memory, Green for whatever reason hasn’t fit in the offense.  Going into this week, Green has career lows in catches, passing yards, and touchdowns.   Green totaled 41 receptions for 419 yards and 2 touchdowns.   

                The Bengals know this could be a fluke year for him.  It didn’t help there wasn’t really an offseason or any preseason games played due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They only had practice.   Green wasn’t able to be on the same page as Burrow and backup quarterback Brandon Allen.  Even in games when Green is wide open, the quarterbacks don’t throw his way.  Some of the time it isn’t their fault.  They are being pressured and those are sacks or incompletions. 

                Green might be playing his final games for Cincinnati.  He understands that.  According to ESPN.com, Green said, “I love my time here. Who knows what is going to happen? I will be ready for anything and be excited to get back to playing football whether it is here or somewhere else.”

                Green is a free agent at the end of the season.  It doesn’t seem he is worth Cincinnati placing the franchise tag on him again because his play shows he hasn’t earned it.    The Bengals may talk to him about a new contract.  He most likely will have to take a pay cut to stay with the Bengals. If Cincinnati lets him test the free agent market, teams may be interested in him.  He is a veteran wide receiver.  He won’t be the number 1 receiver on the depth chart.  Green could be the #2 option.  It would take the pressure off the top wide receiver to be the only playmaker at the position.  Teams might  take a chance on him hoping his numbers improve from this year.  Time will only tell where Green will be playing football in 2021.