Bengals WR A.J. Green admits to being frustrated but says he doesn't want to be traded
A.J. Green is off to his slowest start of his career. Green’s 14 catches and 119 receiving yards are the fewest he’s ever had through the first five weeks of a regular season. The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver confessed his comfort level on the field is still a work in progress.
“Still working my way in. Still trying to find my way in and stuff in this new offense,” Green said. “Every week it’s going to be trying to get better each week.”
Green, who was out all of last season with a left ankle injury, missed most of this year’s training camp due to a hamstring injury. His hamstring flared up on him again in the team’s Week 5 loss to the Baltimore Ravens.
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Prior to aggravating his hamstring, Green was unproductive versus the Ravens. He was targeted one time and had zero catches. The veteran wide receiver’s lackluster day and start to the season spilled over to the sideline in Baltimore. He was captured on camera visibly frustrated.
Cameras caught Green seemingly mouthing “just trade me” while he was sitting on the bench. Green denied that he requested a trade and said people are trying to incite drama.
“I don’t know if that’s accurate. I think they’re just trying to reach for something – if you’re a professional lip reader,” Green said. “People are going to say whatever.”
The seven-time Pro Bowler did concede his early-season struggles have irked him and it’s starting to affect his play, because he’s overthinking things rather than playing loose.
“I get in my head and I think the frustration just took over where I'm just not playing my game,” Green explained. “I used to go out there and play relaxed and play free and just let the game come to me.”
Joe Burrow has targeted Green 34 times this season, the second most of any Bengals wide receiver. Yet, Burrow and Green have only connected on 41% of those targets, which is the lowest catch percentage of any Cincinnati wideout.
Burrow said this week that it’s important for he and Green to develop better chemistry.
“A.J. is a great player and I’m going to continue to try to get him the ball and we need to get him going. He’s a big part of this offense and we just have to get it going,” Burrow said. “We’re going to need some better chemistry. We do.”
Burrow and Green have had conversations about how build a better rapport on the field and have taken extra practice reps. Although, Green isn’t requesting for Burrow to force feed him on Sundays. The receiver wants his receptions to come within the flow of the offense.
“Me and Joe always have conversations, what I like and what I need to do,” Green said. “He has so much on his plate, I just don't want to add to that, just not try to force him to look my way all the time when it's not the case. For me, it's just continue to work through the week and just get better each week.”
Green said his quiet five games aren’t a cause for concern. Coming off multiple injuries, no preseason and an abbreviated training camp, Green anticipated this season was going to be challenging.
“I'm just happy to be back out there. So, I know it's going to come over time,” Green explained. “I know it's not going to be easy for me. I knew this season wasn't going to be easy.”
It hasn’t been easy thus far for Green, who has seen the opposing team’s best cornerback most weeks. He’s had a difficult time creating separation against top corners like the Chargers’ Casey Hayward, Browns' Denzel Ward, Eagles' Darius Slay and Ravens' Marcus Peters.
There’s still time for Green to turn things around, though. The team issued Green the franchise tag in March. He’s motivated to prove he’s worthy of a long-term contract. The veteran wideout is not hitting the panic button. He’s hoping to transform his early-season frustrations into productivity.
“I just got to channel that frustration and keep playing like I have for the past couple years,” Green said. “So, for me, now I'm in a good space and let the game come to me.”