Good news for the Bengals. Wide receiver A.J. Green did not suffer a full hamstring tear, as initially feared (Twitter link via Ian Rapoport of NFL.com). According to one source, he’ll probably miss a few weeks and won’t require surgery. The hamstring only has a small tear/strain, so he may be able to play through it. Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com tweets that Green will miss this week’s game against the Ravens.
Green gave fans everywhere a major scare when he was carted off the field early in Sunday’s contest between the Bengals and Bills. In the midst of another incredible season, that looked to be the end of Green’s year. Now, Green can be back for the home stretch of the regular season. The Bengals are not technically out of the playoff running, but it will take a lot for them to go from 3-6-1 to a playoff berth.
For the sixth consecutive season, Green has put up elite receiving numbers. The 28-year-old has hauled in 66 receptions this year for 964 yards and four touchdowns. In fact, even though he failed to collect a catch during yesterday’s contest, Green still ranks in the top-five in receptions and receiving yards. The 2011 first-round pick has only missed four regular season games in his career, including three in 2014 as he recovered from a toe injury.
In Green’s absence, the Bengals will be forced to rely on wideouts Brandon LaFell and Tyler Boyd. LaFell, 30, was signed by the Bengals this offseason, and the veteran has compiled 33 receptions for 419 yards and four touchdowns this season. Meanwhile, the Bengals used their second-round pick to select Boyd, a Pittsburgh standout. The rookie had been relatively quiet through the first two months of the season, although he did catch his first touchdown yesterday.
The Bengals offense took another hit yesterday, as running back Giovani Bernard tore his ACL. The 24-year-old is expected to miss the rest of the season.