A.J. Green out with injured toe
CINCINNATI -- The Bengals' passing game took another big blow Sunday afternoon as Pro Bowl receiver A.J. Green was declared out for the rest of the home opener against theFalconsafter suffering a toe injury.
Green was injured at the end of the Bengals' first drive of the game. He originally had been declared questionable to return but was downgraded as the Bengals wrapped up their final drive of the opening quarter. He remained in pads on the sideline into the second quarter.
Cincinnati also lost linebacker Vontaze Burfict, who left the game with a stinger. The Bengals announced that Burfict, who suffered a concussion in last week's game, would not return against the Falcons.
Green had missed Thursday's practice with a foot injury and had been limited in Wednesday's practice with the same issue. He was a full participant in Friday's session and was listed as probable to play.
The toe injury is on his right foot, the same one as the previous injury.
Green didn't contribute statistically to the opening quarter. He caught six passes for 131 yards and the go-ahead touchdown in the Bengals' 23-16 win over Baltimore last week.
In that same game, tight end Tyler Eifert was lost for the next nine weeks with a dislocated elbow. He was placed on short-term injured reserve earlier this week and will be eligible to return for the Bengals' Week 9 Thursday night game at home against the Browns.
Along with those injuries, the Bengals also have been missing receiver Marvin Jones, who suffered a foot injury during a preseason practice. He's expected to return for Week 5 at New England.
After Green's injury, the Bengals announced that two more players had been lost for the game. Defensive tackle Brandon Thompson was lost with a right knee injury, and tight end Alex Smith was lost with a left biceps injury.
Without Green, the Bengals have turned to Brandon Tate, Mohamed Sanu and Dane Sanzenbacher in the passing game. Undrafted rookie free-agent tight end Ryan Hewitt also should see a little extra action along with Jermaine Gresham while Eifert and Smith are out.
