A.J. Green Injury: Updates on Bengals Star's Toe and Return

Updates from Sunday, Nov. 2

The Bengals confirm A.J. Green is active for Week 9:

Earlier, NBC Sports' Mike Florio reported how much action Green is expected to see today vs. Jacksonville: 

"

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, it depends on how the game is going.  Green could get 30 snaps on offense, he could get more.  If/when the game is in hand, the strong inclination will be to put him on the sideline and save him for Cleveland.

Green has said that the sprained toe ligaments will be an issue all year.  So whenever there’s an opportunity to let him rest the toe, the Bengals would be wise to take it — especially with their only short-week game coming up this week.

"

Updates from Friday, Oct. 31

ESPN's Coley Harvey has the latest on Green's status:

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com has more on the wideout, according to head coach Marvin Lewis:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 30

Richard Skinner of Enquirer Media offers this on Green:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 29

Hobson passed along an update on Green's toe injury:

Skinner later provided what he was seeing from Green at practice:

After practice, Green commented on how he felt, via Cole Harvey of ESPN.com:

Updates from Monday, Oct. 27

Skinner provides a statement from Green discussing his recovery and potential return:

"

'I'll practice this week and see how it goes, but I think I'll be fine,' said Green. 'I was at 40 percent last week and I feel about 80 percent today. I haven't had any soreness after I've worked out.'

When pressed and asked specifically if he expects to play against Jacksonville, Green said, 'Yes.'

"

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 26

Jay Morrison of Cox Media Group confirms Green will not play in Week 8:

Earlier in the day, NBC Sports' Mike Florio reported when fans could expect to see Green return to the field: 

"

The Bengals haven’t been the same without receiver A.J. Green, who has missed two games after aggravating a sprained toe. ...

... They could have him back in seven days, when the Jaguars come to town.

Per a source with knowledge of the situation, Green plans to return in Week Nine. 

"

Updates from Friday, Oct. 24

ESPN's Coley Harvey has an update on Green's status for this week:

Earlier, Harvey passed along what he was seeing from Friday's practice:

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com provided Marvin Lewis' thoughts on Green's injury:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 23

Richard Skinner of Cincinnati.com reported on A.J. Green from Thursday's practice:

ESPN's Coley Harvey provided the official status for Green on Thursday from the Bengals injury report:

Albert Breer of NFL.com also weighed in on Green's injury and potential return:

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 22

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com updated A.J. Green's status from Wednesday's practice:

"

A.J. Green didn’t practice Wednesday and instead worked on the rehab field, which still puts him in play for Sunday's 1 p.m. game against the Ravens at Paul Brown Stadium. Green did some running, as well as high-stepping and stretching.

(...)

'When he’s significantly healed, he’ll be ready to play. He’ll know it, I’ll know it. Then he’ll move forward,' Lewis said. “He’s had the best people in the world, at least in our country, examine him and be consistent with their message…we’ve felt good about that.'

But Lewis did suggest that Green for about 20 snaps would be better than no Green.

'It’s hard for me to put a guy out there Sunday that I don’t think can last a full game,’ he said. 'If we have A.J. for part of the game doing certain things, that would be great. I think we could operate offensively…I guess we’ll cross that bridge when the time comes.'

"

Updates from Tuesday, Oct. 21

A.J. Green talked about his status on Tuesday, according to NFL.com's Kevin Patra:

"

"It's still up in the air," Green said. "But it definitely feels better. We'll see about this week."

Green admitted he probably wouldn't be fully healthy the rest of this year.

"It's probably not gonna be 100 percent, but I hope it's just manageable," Green said. "I can get through the season and be fine and still play at a high level."

"

Updates from Monday, Oct. 20

ESPN's Coley Harvey provides a synopsis of Bengals head coach Marvin Lewis discussing AJ Green's recovery:

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 19

The Bengals confirmed AJ Green will not play in Week 7:

Albert Breer and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network later reported Green's chances of playing Week 8:

Earlier, the Bengals posted a video of AJ Green testing out his toe before the game:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 17

ESPN's Coley Harvey has an update on A.J. Green's injured foot:

"

After Green's visit to a foot specialist last week in Cincinnati, the hope was that the third-year star wideout would be back after this week. But the possibility exists his return could take a little longer.

Asked Friday about a more defined timetable for Green's return from a big toe injury that kept him out of last week's game and will do the same this Sunday, Lewis simply said "the time is up in the air."

"

Updates from Wednesday, Oct. 15

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com provides an update on A.J. Green's status:

Updates from Monday, Oct. 13

Kevin Patra of NFL.com, courtesy of Ian Rapoport of NFL Network, reiterates A.J. Green's expected status for Week 7:

"

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Monday morning that the Bengals' star receiver will miss another week with the toe injury that forced him to miss Sunday's tie with the Carolina Panthers, according to a source informed of the injury.

Green is seeing a specialist early this week to find out how much more time he'll miss, per Rapoport.

 

"

Updates from Sunday, Oct. 12

Paul Dehner Jr. of The Cincinnati Enquirer confirms A.J. Green will not play in Week 6:

Bob Holtzman of ESPN provides comments from Green, who spoke about his injury:

Updates from Friday, Oct. 10

ESPN's Coley Harvey has an official update on Green's status:

NFL Network's Albert Breer has an encouraging update on Green:

ESPN's Bob Holzman has bad news regarding Green's status ahead of Sunday:

Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer has an update on Green at practice Friday:

Dehner Jr. had more from Marvin Lewis:

Updates from Thursday, Oct. 9

Ian Rapoport of NFL.com has bad news regarding A.J. Green's status for Sunday:

Ross Tucker of NBCSN reports on what Green's injury could be:

Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com has an update on Green:

"

Wednesday's MRI is going to send him to another consultation with one of the nation's leading foot specialists when he meets with Cincinnati doctor James Amis on Thursday. Since a visit with another foot specialist is also planned, it's hard to see him being ready for Sunday, but he did play seven days after leaving the Atlanta game early.

It's believed the MRI again showed no tears or breaks, but he's obviously still having discomfort in the ligament under the sesamoid bone in the ball of the foot underneath the big or great toe.

At this point it's all speculation because his foot is in the hands of doctors. So anything is on the table pending what they prescribe for treatment, ranging to more treatments while playing, to shutting him down for a few weeks, or maybe longer. Green was already examined by Amis last month. Amis is one of the few guys who has as many skins on the wall as Green. He's the magician/surgeon who operated on Leon Hall's two torn Achilles to jump start two miracle rehabs.

"

Hobson also discussed Green's status for Thursday's practice: 

Original Text

Cincinnati Bengals superstar wide receiver A.J. Green left Wednesday's practice after apparently aggravating a previous toe injury.

Richard Skinner of Cincinnati.com reported the news:

"

AJ green appears to have tweaked his toe again. Threw shoe off in disgust after warm ups. He is leaving field on a cart

— Richard Skinner (@nkyskinner) October 8, 2014"

Bleacher Report's Will Carroll spoke about the injury:

Once practice was over, ESPN's Cole Harvey provided how the Bengals described Green's status on the injury report:

Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reported on what the next step is for Green:

Michael Fabiano of NFL Network weighs in on how this injury may open the door for another Bengals wide receiver to play a larger role:

After missing just one game in his first three brilliant NFL seasons, discouraging signs surfaced for Green toward the beginning of the 2014 campaign. Green strained a ligament in his foot early in the Bengals' Week 2 contest against the Atlanta Falcons, causing him to miss most of the game.

ESPN Stats & Info alluded to the significance of Green's exit from the lineup against Atlanta:

Now that the Pro Bowl wideout aggravated the injury during practice Wednesday, the Bengals have to be concerned about how long this issue will linger.

Green talked before the season about emerging as more of a leader, not in terms of production but as a more prominent presence in the locker room.

"I have to be more vocal and demand things," said Green, per Harvey. "It's going to be hard but I feel like I've done enough here to say some things. I still have to be more vocal. Not selfish, but talk to people."

The combination of Green and quarterback Andy Dalton has been sensational for Cincinnati, as the team's top two picks from the 2011 draft have delivered the goods offensively. Over the past three-plus seasons, the duo have hooked up for more than 4,000 yards receiving and 31 touchdowns.

The Red Rifle managed to adjust fine without Green against Atlanta in Week 2, per FoxSportsOhio.com's Kevin Goheen:

However, Dalton relies on Green a great deal as a safety valve. If the fourth-year wideout is forced to miss time due to his latest injury, it could cause the Bengals passing game to sputter.

Offensive coordinator Hue Jackson likes to lean on the rushing attack more than his predecessor Jay Gruden did. Therefore, until Green returns, look for the Bengals to build the offense around electric, all-purpose running back Giovani Bernard and rookie bruiser Jeremy Hill.

All the pieces appear to be in place for Cincinnati to make a legitimate Super Bowl push within the next few years. Since Green and Dalton arrived, the team hasn't missed the playoffs. However, for that to happen, the Bengals need their biggest weapon, Green, on the field.

Mohamed Sanu will rise to the role of go-to receiver if Green is unable to play, and athletic tight end Jermaine Gresham should see an increase in targets while the Pro Bowl wideout recuperates. Depending on how much time Green is forced to miss (if any), Marvin Jones could also stand to benefit upon returning from his tweaked ankle.