Will A.J. Green stay, or will he go? That's the question surrounding the Cincinnati Bengals' organization.
The 31-year-old star wide receiver will finish his 2019 season without a down played. Green suffered an injury in training camp, which included tearing multiple ligaments in his left ankle. What was once a timetable of a few months maximum to return, Green has not hit the field, practicing in a limited fashion on a minimum basis.
Green has not played while going into a contract year. With the Bengals possessing a 1-13 record, there is a legitimate belief that he will not return to Cincinnati next season, if, of course, he doesn't receive the franchise tag.
If running back Joe Mixon had the power to decide, he'd keep Green in tiger stripes for as long as possible. Said the third-year back on Twitter:
For what it’s worth I sure hope @AJGreen_18 is a bengal for my entire career. No better teammate or person. #RealRapNoCap
— ⚡️Primetime!!!⚡️ (@Joe_MainMixon) December 19, 2019
The rumor is the Bengals will franchise tag Green, which would be worth $18 million. On Wednesday, he said in response to potentially earning the tag, via Ben Baby of ESPN:
“But that also shows that they're not committed, and in that circumstance,” Green said, “I have to protect myself.”
Though Green wants to protect himself, he also knows how the NFL works and that he's in the situation to get the tag for a reason.
“I understand the business part of this,” Green said. “I understand if they franchise tag me, I can't put myself in that situation to be there.”
Whether or not Green stays isn't up to Mixon. But, if he had a word, they would share a locker room until they can't anymore.
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