The bye week came at the perfect time for a 5-3 Bengals team that had been decimated by injuries. They were expected to get healthy and prepare for the final eight games of the season. Instead, they may have gotten the worst injury news of all.
Wide receiver A.J. Green is expected to miss "some games" according to ESPN's Adam Schefter and may need surgery. He will meet with Dr. Robert Anderson later this week.
Green is on pace for his best season since 2013 – 90 receptions, 1,374 yards and 12 touchdowns. The Bengals' offense could be in trouble. They don't have many proven wide receivers behind Green.
Tyler Boyd has had a breakout season, but none of the other young wide receivers have emerged as a reliable option. John Ross has only played four games, but he's third among receivers in targets (16). Tyler Eifert has more targets (19) than any wide receiver not named Green or Boyd. He hasn't played since Week 4 and is out for the season.
Cincinnati hopes Giovani Bernard will be able to return in Week 10 against New Orleans. Ross could return as well – he continues to deal with a groin injury that has lingered since Week 4.
Green missing games is one of, if not the worst thing that could happen to this team. The Bengals are averaging nearly 28 points per game and he is a huge reason why.
Would the Bengals have been more aggressive at the trade deadline and acquired a wide receiver if they knew Green's injury was going to force him to miss games? Ian Rapoport says the Green's toe 'swelled up' and is the reason for the change in his status.
The Bengals are off this week and play the New Orleans Saints in Week 10. For more on the team, listen to the Locked on Bengals podcast below: