Is it time for A.J. Green to go on the shelf?
This isn’t what anyone really wants, obviously. Green wants to play for a multitude of reasons. His teammates want him to play. The coaching staff off to the worst start in franchise history wants him on the field.
And yet, Green still hasn’t participated in a Wednesday practice all season. Speaking to the media this week, Zac Taylor noted Green might need a full week of full-go practices — and then some — before getting back on the field:
Whether the Bengals win a game in the next week or two might decide if Green ever gets on the field. If they eliminate the chance of 0-16, everyone might feel better about officially shutting him down.
On a personal level, Green probably wants to show NFL teams he can still go before he heads to free agency this offseason. He’s said his next contract isn’t about the money but he’s also human — each game he misses potentially shaves millions from a new deal in what could be his last NFL contract.
The other side to that is sheer risk of getting on the field at all. We’re talking about Green still working his way back from an injury he suffered on the first day of training camp.
No easy answer exists so we’ll throw it to the fans — should the Bengals shut Green down?
