Bengals HC Zac Taylor told reporters at this week’s Senior Bowl practices that Cincinnati plans to keep WR A.J. Green in 2020.
“Oh, absolutely. He’s a big priority for us,” Taylor said via Geoff Hobson of the team’s website. “Things will have to work out over the course of the spring, but we certainly plan on A.J. being in the fold next year. He’s back healthy and we know that’s a huge weapon that will certainly benefit us.”
Green is not currently under contract for Cincinnati in 2020 after missing the entire last year of his deal in 2019 due to a training camp ankle injury that also derailed extension talks.
If needed, the Bengals reportedly plan to use the franchise tag on Green if they can’t agree to an extension. The franchise tag would cost the Bengals around $18 million fully guaranteed for the 2020 season. It would also buy them time to negotiate an extension.
“I have no problem with the franchise [tag],” Green said. “I don’t like it, but I’m not a guy that’s going to sit out the whole year. But at the end of the day, that shows me they’re not committed to me. That’s fine. They have a business they have to run. As the player, I have my own business, so if you do that I have to protect myself.
“If you’re not committed to me long-term, I understand. There are no hard feelings. You have a business to run. All great businesses face difficult decisions. I understand that. For me, I have to make a big decision as well.”
Green, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Bengals back in 2011. He just finished the final year of his five-year, $70.176 million contract that included $26.75 million guaranteed and set to make a base salary $11.97 million in 2019.
Green has landed on injured reserve each of the past two seasons after undergoing surgery for torn ligaments in his toe in 2018 and tearing ankle ligaments in training camp in 2019.
In 2018, Green appeared nine games for the Bengals and caught 46 passes for 694 yards receiving and six touchdowns.
We have him featured in our Top 50 – 2020 Free Agents list.
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