Tag: A.J. Green

Commanders’ WR Terry McLaurin makes NFL history

Further proof of McLaurin’s greatness.

Quickly, name the only four NFL receivers in history to accomplish a milestone of 50 catches and 900 receiving yards in each of their first six seasons.

Well, first, let’s settle the matter of Washington Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin becoming the fourth NFL player to reach these receiving statistics on Sunday against the Saints.

That’s right. Only four receivers have accomplished these plateaus in NFL history for various reasons. Injury is a major reason, as players get injured occasionally.

In the last 30 years, the game has changed to much more of a passing game, yet still, only four receivers in the previous 30 years have caught 50 passes and accumulated 900 receiving years in their first six NFL seasons.

When you consider the quarterbacks who have started for Washington during his six seasons, McLaurin’s accomplishments become even more noteworthy. Here are the quarterbacks who were passing to McLaurin:

  • 2019: Case Keenum, Dwayne Haskins, Colt McCoy
  • 2020: Dwayne Haskins, Kyle Allen, Alex Smith, Taylor Heinicke
  • 2021: Ryan Fitzpatrick, Taylor Heinicke, Kyle Allen, Garrett Gilbert
  • 2022: Carson Wentz, Taylor Heinicke, Sam Howell
  • 2023: Sam Howell, Jacoby Brissett
  • 2024: Jayden Daniels, Marcus Mariota

Going through the list leaves one shaking their head, wondering how it is that McLaurin accomplished this.

OK, who are the other three NFL receivers in modern history who have accomplished these statistics in their first six NFL seasons?

Remarkably, no, not even Jerry Rice. Rice had 49 receptions in his rookie season and began his Hall of Fame credentials.

No, not Art Monk. The NFL season was cut to nine games in his third season due to the players’ strike.

Gary Clark? No. In his fourth season, Clark accumulated 892 receiving yards, falling short by a mere eight yards.

Randy Moss? Yes, you are correct. Further, Moss was, in fact, the very first NFL receiver to reach these heights in each of his first six NFL seasons. In his seventh NFL season, he had only 49 receptions, falling a single reception short of reaching these levels in his first seven seasons.

A.J. Green? Yes, Green accomplished these numbers for his first seven NFL seasons, all with the Bengals. Thus, Green was the first to have 50 receptions and 900 receiving yards in his first seven seasons.

Mike Evans? Evans lives on a planet different from other wide receivers. He has accomplished these numbers for each of his first ten NFL seasons. Of course, he is the only receiver in NFL history to accomplish this in his first ten seasons. In addition, though he missed three games this season, he is on track to again reach these marks in 2024 for his 11th consecutive season!

*In fairness to great receivers like Moss, Rice, Monk, and Clark, none of those guys had the opportunity to play in a 17-game NFL season. From 1978-2020, the NFL played 16-game regular seasons, beginning 17-game schedules in 2021.

Rams sign A.J. Green (no, not that one) to the practice squad

The Rams signed A.J. Green to the practice squad, but it’s not the A.J. Green you’re thinking of

The Los Angeles Rams are adding some cornerback depth to their practice squad as they push into the second half of the season, signing a former undrafted player this week.

According to the transaction wire, the Rams signed A.J. Green to the practice squad – and no, it’s not the A.J. Green you’re thinking of.

Green is a 6-foot-2 cornerback out of Oklahoma State who went undrafted in 2020 before signing with the Cleveland Browns. He spent four years with the franchise before signing with the Minnesota Vikings this past January.

He was waived in August and will now get a shot with the Rams.

Green has played 34 games in his career and made two starts, all with the Browns. He has 40 tackles, two interceptions, seven passes broken up and two fumble recoveries.

WATCH: Saquon Barkley says he was drug tested after hurdling Jaguars defender

Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley admits he received a drug test after hurdling Jaguars defender in Eagles win

Saquon Barkley has been named the NFC Offensive Player of the Week for the third time this season.

Barkley’s latest honor comes after he logged  27 carries for 159 yards and a touchdown in a win over Jacksonville. He also had three receptions for 40 yards and a score as Philadelphia continued their hot streak on offense.

Barkley’s most impressive play of the season may have been this short pass from Jalen Hurts that the Philadelphia running back turned into a dazzling gain. The most important aspect of the catch-and-run was Barkley pulling off a 180-degree backward hurdle over a Jaguars defender for a first down.

Barkley had 199 yards from scrimmage on Sunday and has 1,071 yards this year — the most ever by an Eagles player through the first eight games of the season in franchise history.

The play has gone viral, and during a sit-down with AJ Greene and Justin Pugh for Whistle’s Air It Out show, Barkley admitted the NFL administered a drug test following his viral moment.

Whistle is owned by DAZN, the global sports streaming service that offers live and on-demand sports coverage in over 200 countries.

You can see Barkley’s interview and more in the clip below.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5]

Panthers work out 4 players on Tuesday

The Panthers worked out four cornerbacks on Tuesday—and one of those players came away with a deal.

The Carolina Panthers had a clear agenda on Tuesday.

As noted by Aaron Wilson of KPRC 2 Houston yesterday afternoon, the team worked out four cornerbacks—Kyron Brown, A.J. Green (no, not that one), Azizi Hearn and Shemar Jean-Charles. The Panthers would later announce the signing of Hearn, who was added to the practice squad along with defensive lineman DeShawn Williams.

An Oceanside, Calif. native, Hearn began his collegiate career at the University of Arizona in 2017. He’d go on to play in 12 games for the Wildcats during the 2018 campaign—recording 26 combined tackles and one pass defensed.

The 6-foot-1, 204-pounder would later transfer to the University of Wyoming for the 2019, 2020 and 2021 campaigns, and then to UCLA for 2022. He appeared in 45 contests over those four years.

Hearn proceeded to hit the NFL as an undrafted free agent with the Las Vegas Raiders in 2023. After he was released at the end of the summer, he signed on to the New England Patriots’ practice squad for the season.

[lawrence-related id=703146,703120,703075]

18 days till the Cardinals’ season opener against the Bills

No. 18 is the number rookie receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. wears. BJ Ojulari wore it and A.J. Green before him.

The Arizona Cardinals are four days from their preseason finale, six days from having to cut the roster down to 53 players and now only 18 days away from their first regular season game of the year.

They will take on the Buffalo Bills on the road on September 8, 18 days from today.

The Cardinals’ No. 18 is Marvin Harrison Jr., their top pick in the 2024 draft. He has not yet had an impact, although it is expected that he will be great, even as a rookie.

Last season, linebacker BJ Ojulari wore No. 18 as a rookie and had four sacks.

Before Ojulari, an impact player was receiver A.J. Green. While he was somewhat disappointing, over two seasons in 2021 and 2022, he 78 receptions for 1,084 yards and five touchdowns.

The countdown will continue tomorrow.

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1394]

Justin Jefferson joins rarefied air with another 1,000-yard season

Justin Jefferson became only the fifth WR to notch 1,000 yards in each of his first 4 years

It came in a loss, but Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson showed in Week 18 why he’s one of the best receivers in the league when healthy. Jefferson finished Sunday’s game vs. the Detroit Lions with 12 receptions for 192 yards and a touchdown. The 192 yards put Jefferson over the 1,000-yard mark for the fourth time in his young career.

Despite missing seven games this season, the star receiver was still able to surpass the 1,000-yard mark, becoming only the third wide receiver in NFL history to eclipse the 1,000-yard threshold in 10 or fewer games. Along with that feat, Jefferson found himself in some excellent company with his fourth straight 1,000-yard season.

Jefferson became only the fifth receiver in NFL history to start his career with four straight 1,000-yard seasons, joining the New Orleans Saints’ Michael Thomas, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ Mike Evans, the Cincinnati Bengals’ A.J. Green and Vikings legend Randy Moss.

It’s remarkable what Jefferson has been able to accomplish, and he’s only just starting to come into his prime. The sky is the limit. How high can his stats reach with the Vikings? Only time will tell, but he’s well on his way to becoming an all-time great.

[lawrence-related id=89008,88996,88997,88998,88993,88987,88981]

Look: A.J. Green rules the jungle after retiring with Bengals

See A.J. Green rule the jungle for the Bengals.

One day after officially retiring as a member of the Cincinnati Bengals, franchise legend A.J. Green ruled the jungle at Paycor Stadium.

Green held the honorary spot as the Bengals hosted the Baltimore Ravens in the team’s home opener, leading a sold-out crowd in chants and taking his spot at the customary throne.

Below are some of the best media shared from the special occasion and even fan reactions, which we’ll update as more happens throughout and after the AFC North battle.

A.J. Green is back in Cincinnati to be Ruler of the Jungle

A.J. Green is back in town.

The Cincinnati Bengals have their home opener against the Baltimore Ravens Week 2, and the Ruler of the Jungle for the game is going to be none other than long-time Bengal A.J. Green, who just retired as a member of the team.

“I’m honored to come back,” Green said.

He will be leading the “Who Dey” chant before the kickoff at 1 p.m. in his return to what is now Paycor Stadium. Cincinnati fans were extremely excited to hear the former star wide receiver would be returning to the stadium.

Green played for the Bengals for nine years and amassed 9,430 yards and 65 touchdowns which are both second in franchise history behind Chad Johnson.

He commented on the current Bengals team before his return and said there’s nothing he’s able to teach them since they have already played in a Super Bowl. He also had high praise for Joe Burrow, saying they will come back from their slow start with him at the helm.

“He still has to get the feel back, it’s a long season,” Green said. “They’re going to be fine. They have a great defense and a great offense, and they’re led by one of the greatest, and that’s Joe. I call him a young Tom Brady, the way he carries himself… They’ve got the same demeanor.”

Extremely high praise for the Bengals quarterback from a player that is not far removed from the game, and played against Brady.

Green officially retired in February after two seasons with Arizona and this will be his first time back in the stadium since he left for the Cardinals.

A.J. Green officially retires as a Bengal

A.J. Green retires as a member of the Bengals.

Cincinnati Bengals great A.J. Green has officially retired as a member of the team.

Green, who announced his retirement from the NFL in February, was at Paycor Stadium on Saturday to make things official before serving as the Ruler of the Jungle for the team’s home opener against the Baltimore Ravens.

The fourth pick by the Bengals in 2011, Green caught 649 passes (second all-time in franchise history) for 9,430 yards (2nd) and 65 receiving touchdowns (2nd) and recorded 33 100-yard games (1st).

Green, who went on to play two years with the Arizona Cardinals, finished with seven Pro Bowls and two All-Pro nods.

A look at the happenings around Paycor on Saturday:

[lawrence-auto-related count=3 category=1]