Nov 5, 2018 4 min read

The black stool rested upside-down in A.J. Green’s locker – not a site the Bengals wanted to see coming out of their bye week.

Green was getting his injured right foot examined Monday while his teammates returned from a week off that helped some of them heal, but not one of their most valuable players. Green hurt his right foot during a 37-34 win over Tampa Bay heading into the bye.

Green wore a protective boot last week and was sent for an exam by a specialist. Coach Marvin Lewis said Monday afternoon the receiver won’t need surgery, but he gave no indication of when he might be able to play again.

The Bengals (5-3) will likely be missing their most indispensable receiver heading into a game Sunday against the Saints (7-1) at Paul Brown Stadium.

“Obviously it puts a lot of pressure on us as individuals because we know what he brings to the table,” tight end C.J. Uzomah said. “I mean, he’s A.J. Green. A.J. Dream is what we call him – it’s a dream to have him on the team.”

For now, the dream is gone.

Green leads the Bengals with 687 yards receiving and six touchdown catches. When the Bengals need the big catch at the end of a close game, Green is Andy Dalton’s top choice. His touchdown catch with 7 seconds left gave the Bengals a 37-36 win over the Falcons Sept. 30. During the win over the Buccaneers, Green had catches of 23 and 11 yards that moved the Bengals in range for Randy Bullock’s 44-yard field goal on the final play. Green hurt his foot on the final catch.

Cincinnati’s offense has been depleted by injuries to its tight ends – Tyler Eifert is out for the season with a broken ankle – and injuries to both running backs. Joe Mixon missed two games after knee surgery, and Giovani Bernard has missed the past four games with a knee injury.

Now, they have to get by without Green.

Harbaugh on the hot seat: The Ravens have a losing record and are in danger of missing the playoffs for the fourth year in a row, so coach John Harbaugh now finds himself fielding questions about job security as he tries to bring Baltimore back into contention.

Not long after the Ravens (4-5) lost their third straight, 23-16 to Pittsburgh Sunday, Harbaugh was asked if he was apprehensive about his future with the team.

“I’ve never been someone who’s worried about keeping a job,” he said. “It’s always been, for me, doing the job.”

On Monday, Harbaugh was asked how it felt to deal with that line of questioning with two months left in the season.

“I’m not surprised or insulted,” he said. “I understand that’s part of it and probably not surprised because you have to win games in this league. That’s the bottom line.”

Harbaugh is in his 11th season with the Ravens. Since taking over for Brian Billick in 2008, he’s compiled a 108-76 record, reached the playoffs six times and won a Super Bowl.

But the Ravens are in the midst of a serious dry spell, and owner Steve Bisciotti acknowledged last February that firing Harbaugh after the 2017 season “was certainly a consideration.”

Pats’ WR supports Pittsburgh: New England Patriots receiver Julian Edelman expressed his support for the victims of a Pittsburgh synagogue shooting while wearing an Israeli baseball cap when he spoke to reporters after Sunday night’s game.

Edelman, who is Jewish, spoke in the Patriots locker room after the team’s 31-17 victory over the Green Bay Packers. He said, “I’m just letting the people out in Pittsburgh know I’m thinking about them. Sending vibes, and our prayers. I’m just letting them know: I’m behind you and I’m supporting (you).”

Authorities say Robert Bowers raged against Jews as he gunned down 11 and wounded six at Pittsburgh’s Tree of Life synagogue Oct. 27. He has been charged with murder, hate crimes and other offenses that could bring the death penalty.

Edelman said it was a “big hit to the community. And it was uncalled for.”