Zac Taylor On A.J. Green: “We Are Not Trading That Guy”

Bengals HC Zac Taylor made it clear on Thursday that they have no plans to trade WR A.J. Green, despite increasing speculation that he could be someone to watch leading up to this year’s deadline. 

“I’ve heard the speculation. We are not trading that guy,” Taylor said.

Paul Dehner Jr. says that Taylor was “definitive” in saying Green will not be traded away. According to Dehner Jr, an extension could be coming for Green at some point in the near future once he’s healthy. 

Green said recently that he understands the NFL is a business. He wants to play five more seasons in the NFL at a high level and is willing to do so on another team if Cincinnati moves on. 

“I’m prepared for anything,” Green said, via Bengals.com. “A trade’s not going to change who I am. I’m still going to play. I’m still going to be A.J.”

Green has yet to appear in an NFL game this year, due to an ankle injury he suffered during training camp. The good news is that he was able to return to practice Thursday on a limited basis. 

Green, 31, is a former first-round pick of the Bengals back in 2011. He’s entering 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 landed on injured reserve last season after undergoing surgery for torn ligaments in his toe. Green also injured his ankle early during training camp and has yet to play this season.

In 2018, Green appeared nine games for the Bengals and caught 46 passes for 694 yards receiving and six touchdowns.