[jwplayer fbbypsUl-ThvAeFxT]
The Cincinnati Bengals expect star wideout A.J. Green to play under the franchise tag in 2020.
ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported on SportsCenter that the team still expects Green to sign his tender (h/t Bleacher Report’s Mike Chiari:
“He has not signed the tag. I’ve talked to some sources involved. They don’t know either if he’s going to or if a long-term deal is going to get done. They don’t sound overly optimistic in Cincinnati that their best pass-catcher will be locked up long-term. They expect that he’ll play this year under the tag. It’s sort of a feeling-out period for both parties because Green practiced all but five minutes last year with various injuries, including a foot issue, and so they still consider him one of the best wide receivers when healthy. They know he’s ready to go right now and finally healed up, so maybe a one-year pact is best for both parties.”
No great shock here — the Bengals aren’t doing any business right now when it comes to signing free agents or draft picks. Trae Waynes moved to Cincinnati but still doesn’t have a deal and no rookies have signed.
Green isn’t any different and it’s been made clear the Bengals didn’t want to dish a long-term extension here without seeing if he’s fully healthy. Green went down with an injury on the first day of training camp last year and this offseason coronavirus restrictions have prevented players from getting to team facilities.
Green has said he’ll sign the tag. Unless something changes dramatically, the two sides won’t reach a long-term agreement before the July 15 deadline.
[vertical-gallery id=35725]