Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green offered little doubt that he would be ready to face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Green had to leave last weekend’s loss at Carolina with what was initially termed a groin injury. That led to fears that Cincinnati’s top wide receiver could be facing a lengthy absence.
Not so, Green told reporters on Thursday, noting that the injury was a “bone bruise” and not muscle-related.
“I feel great,” said Green, per the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I had the same thing in college. Came down on my butt just like that. It was a little scary at first. Could have been a lot worse. But I feel good. Little sore yesterday, but today I felt good. No limitations so I’m fine.”
Despite his premature exit from Sunday’s 31-21 loss, Green is off to a superb start with 16 receptions and four touchdowns through the first three games.
Green had five receptions for 52 yards before he was hurt Sunday. In his previous game, he hauled in three first-half touchdown passes in a 34-23 victory over Baltimore.
This week’s game will mark a homecoming of sorts for Green, who starred at the University of Georgia before the Bengals selected him with the No. 4 overall pick in the 2011 NFL Draft.
One day before Green’s positive medical outlook, Cincinnati coach Marvin Lewis expressed optimism that his perennial Pro Bowl wideout would be ready for Sunday’s matchup.
“Well, he’ll be ready to go,” said Lewis, via the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. “It’s his first opportunity to play in the state of Georgia in awhile.”
Green has made the Pro Bowl in each of his seven seasons. He surpassed 1,000 yards in all but one season, when he was limited to 10 games because of injury in 2016.
Green tried to downplay a matchup against Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones, another first-round pick who played collegiately at Alabama — a rival of Georgia in the Southeastern Conference.
“I play offense,” Green said. “He plays offense. It’s nothing to me. Julio, I talk to him in the offseason. We see each other around. A great person, great football player.”
Green enters Sunday’s game with career totals of 572 receptions for 8,432 yards and 61 touchdowns in 105 contests.
