AJ Green To Be a Game-Time Decision

Added on Nov 16, 2011 by Scott in

NFL

To say that Bengals rookie wide receiver A.J. Green has enjoyed a successful season would be an understatement. The first blip on his radar could come Sunday if he sits out the key divisional matchup with the Ravens. Green suffered a bone bruise in the Week 10 loss to Pittsburgh and will miss practice today. He is being called a game-time decision.

Green exited the Steelers game with a hyperextended right knee after catching a 36-yard touchdown. An MRI confirmed the bruise and also revealed no significant ligament damage. Green was noncommittal about his availability for Sunday, but didn’t rule himself out.

“I feel pretty good. It’s just a little stiff and I’m taking it day by day and resting it. We’ll see how it goes through the whole week,” Green said, according to The Enquirer.

Green didn’t take long to make his presence felt in the Bengals offense. He caught just one pass in Week 1 but it went for a 41-yard score. He followed that up a week later by posting 10 catches for 124 yards and a touchdown. In nine games, he has 41 receptions for 635 yards and six scores.

The 6’4″ Georgia product leads the Bengals and all rookie wideouts in catches, yards and touchdowns. He and fellow rookie Andy Dalton have developed a potent quarterback-receiver combo and are one of the main reasons why Cincinnati is in the AFC playoff hunt.

Obviously not having Green in the lineup against the Ravens will seriously hamper their chances of pulling out a road win. If he can’t go, Jerome Simpson, Andrew Caldwell and Jermaine Gresham — who have combined for eight touchdowns — will have to pick up the slack. All three have had moments of brilliance this season, but none of them possess Green’s deep speed or innate playmaking ability.

The Bengals are listed as +7 underdogs at Baltimore.

Source: NFL.com