10 NFL players who will be a letdown in 2021
By Randy Gurzi
7. A.J. Green, WR, Arizona Cardinals
There was a time when A.J. Green was one of the best wide receivers in the NFL. He came into the league in 2011 and had 65 receptions for 1,057 yards with seven touchdowns for the Cincinnati Bengals. That was the first of five seasons in a row with over 1,000-yards and he even had six in his first seven years in the league.
Then in 2018, things started to slow down for Green. He dealt with a nagging toe injury and missed seven total games on the season. This was followed up with an ankle injury in 2019 that cost him the entire campaign. He was inactive throughout December when they finally decided to put him on the IR.
A free agent in 2020, Green was then hit with the franchise tag as Cincinnati tried to see what was left in the tank. He finished with just 47 receptions on 104 targets with 523 yards and two touchdowns. Nearly all those numbers were career lows for Green who then hit the open market in 2021 and signed with the Arizona Cardinals.
He’s not expected to be the No. 1 target with DeAndre Hopkins already on the roster but there are still some lofty expectations on the offense as a whole after his addition. Unfortunately, it seems as though the injuries have caught up to Green who will also be turning 33 before the season begins.