Jim Owczarski

jowczarski@enquirer.com

HOUSTON, Texas -- The Cincinnati Bengals have decided to sit A.J. Green for Saturday night’s game in Houston, even though the Pro Bowl wide receiver had every expectation to play before the team departed Cincinnati on Friday.

"I'm not the type of guy to shut it down just to bail out on my team because we are not having the season we wanted to have," Green said on Thursday. "That's a cowardly move to me. If I'm healthy, I'm going to play. And I feel like I'm healthy enough to play this week."

But on Friday night in Houston, Bengals ownership met with head coach Marvin Lewis and the team’s medical staff at the team hotel to fully discuss Green’s health. Outside medical experts were also consulted.

Because of the severity of Green’s hamstring tendon tear – which he classified as “50 percent torn” on Dec. 2 – and the fact that as of this weekend it was not 100 percent healed, Bengals ownership felt that Green and the club would be “running an inordinate risk of him making it a lot worse were he to play in the game,” per a team spokesman.

The Enquirer has learned that Green was not pulled from a team meeting to be told of the decision, but was informed before any meetings occurred.

It has been reported Green will not play Jan. 1 against Baltimore in the season finale, but there was no comment from the club on that Saturday.

It is confirmed, however, that Green is currently no longer with the team in Houston.

Following the game Saturday, the team has scheduled off days on Sunday and Monday.