Cincinnati Bengals veteran wide receiver A.J. Green has been sidelined since July with an ankle injury.
The seven-time Pro Bowler has missed Cincinnati’s first five games and has already been ruled out for Sunday’s matchup with the Baltimore Ravens.
In the midst of a contract season, rumors have persisted that Green could very well be traded. Cincinnati finds itself at 0-5 on the season and in the beginning stages of a rebuild. Green doesn’t necessarily have a future with the organization.
In talking about a potential trade, Green didn’t sound optimistic that he’d finish his career with the Bengals.
“I’m prepared for anything,” Green said, via the Bengals’ official website. “A trade’s not going to change who I am. I’m still going to play. I’m still going to be A.J.”
There’s a couple interesting aspects to this. Green had in the past talked about how a trade likely wasn’t in the cards and that he wanted to finish his career in Cincinnati. The future Hall of Famer has obviously changed his tone.
This interview also took place on the Bengals’ official website. It’s not too often that a potential trade is discussed in this manner.
Still sidelined to injury, Green will have to show some strides in returning to the field before the Oct. 29 trade deadline. That’s the biggest key here.
If that were to happen, a number of receiver-needy teams would come calling.
That includes the only two remaining undefeated squads in the NFL, the New England Patriots and San Francisco 49ers.
But the number of teams wouldn’t be limited to those two. The Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles have also been linked to receivers on the rumor mill.