The Bengals offense will be without a few key pieces in their first preseason game of the season.
As expected, wide receiver A.J. Green will not be making the trip to Atlanta after bruising his knee early in training camp. There’s no sign of structural damage or anything else that would extend his absence significantly, but Green hasn’t practiced since getting dinged and there’s no point in pushing things with your best offensive player.
Green won’t be doing the Macaulay Culkin thing while the Bengals are in Atlanta for the game and a couple of joint practices with the Falcons earlier in the week. Left tackle Andrew Whitworth won’t be making the trip as he continues to work his way back into game shape after offseason knee surgery and wide receiver Andrew Hawkins is recovering from an ankle injury that will also keep him grounded.
Defensive tackle Brandon Thompson, defensive tackle Larry Black, fullback Chris Pressley, wide receiver Tyrone Goard, tight end Alex Smith and tackle Reid Fragel will also miss the team’s first preseason game.