KANSAS CITY, MO – OCTOBER 21: Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green (18) after a reception during the NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs on October 21, 2018 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by William Purnell/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
The Cincinnati Bengals got some bad news by way of an injury update about their star wideout on Sunday.
On Saturday, star Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green went down with an injury at training camp. While there wasn’t any immediate confirmation on the nature of the injury or its severity, any time a top player leaves the practice field on a cart it’s typically never good news.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Sunday that Green’s injury is more than a routine ankle sprain it was initially feared to be, but rather torn ligaments in his left ankle that will keep him out for six to eight weeks.
The good news is that the Bengals do not believe Green will miss the team’s Week 1 contest against the Seattle Seahawks. The bad news, though, is that ligament injuries — particularly ankle ligaments — heal in unpredictable timeframes. Additionally, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero and NFL.com, that six-to-eight-week timetable only applies if Green doesn’t undergo surgery. Green will seek a second opinion before determining his next steps.
Given the injury, Green’s history of foot and leg ailments and Green being north of 30 years old, this is likely something the Bengals will have to monitor all season long.
It may be something the NFL will have to look into, as well. Schefter notes that Green’s injury happened at the University of Dayton’s Welcome Stadium, as part of the league’s 100-year anniversary celebrations. Schefter reported that “[f]ield conditions were considered subpar; [there is] more scrutiny expected over decision to practice there.”
Green missed seven games a season ago and also landed on injured reserve with a toe injury that required surgery. He also injured a hamstring in 2016 that put him on IR. And now, at age 31 and in a contract year, he cannot afford to miss significant time nor suddenly be considered injury-prone.
While there’s still ample time for Green to rehabilitate his ankle, it’s hard to imagine him entering Week 1 at 100 percent health. While the good news is that Saturday’s injury hasn’t already costed Green the season, the bad news is that the Bengals will have to keep a close eye on it throughout the 2019 campaign and hope that it doesn’t resurface as the weeks roll by.