PITTSBURGH -- Bengals wide receiver A.J. Green suffered a serious injury for the second consecutive game, this time a concussion after being hit by Pittsburgh safety Mike Mitchell late in the fourth quarter on a play in which he was stripped of the ball by Steelers cornerback Antwon Blake following a 17-yard gain deep into Pittsburgh territory.
Green was placed under the NFL's concussion protocol, will be evaluated as the week progresses and must be cleared by an independent neurologist before he is able to play in another game. His status for next Sunday's AFC wild-card game at Indianapolis is undetermined.
As part of the protocol, Green was not allowed to speak with reporters after Cincinnati's 27-17 loss at Heinz Field. Head coach Marvin Lewis did not have any update on Green after the game.
Green had eight catches for 82 yards, including six for 67 yards during two drives in the second half. He had four catches for 44 yards on a 15-play, 89-yard touchdown drive that spanned late in the third quarter into the fourth quarter and cut a 10-point halftime deficit to three points, 20-17, with 11:14 left to play. When the Bengals got the ball back with 5:43 remaining at their own 40-yard line on an interception by Dane Sanzenbacher off a fake punt, quarterback Andy Dalton started looking for Green again.
He connected with Green for a quick six yards on the first play. Dalton found Green on a slant three plays later but Blake was able to strip the ball from Green while tackling him. Mitchell came from his deep position for a hit as Green was heading the ground.
Green missed three games and the majority of a fourth game earlier this season, including a 27-0 loss at Indianapolis, with a turf toe injury. He was limited in last Monday's 37-28 win against Denver because of a bruised biceps suffered in the first quarter.
Green, who was selected to his fourth consecutive Pro Bowl this past week, went over the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the fourth straight season. He finished the regular season with 69 catches for 1,041 yards and six touchdowns.
