| Bengals WR A.J. Green currently leads the AFC in receiving yards (1,324 yards on 95 receptions). (AP Images) |
The Bengals don't need to watch the scoreboard anymore, but fans of WR A.J. Green may be watching the box score Sunday against Baltimore.
The second-year receiver sits just 117 yards away from breaking Chad Johnson's franchise record for receiving yards in a season. Johnson racked up 1,440 in 2006.
Green has caught 95 passes for 1,324 yards through 15 games thus far this season.
He needs six receptions to own the second-most receptions in a single season. T.J. Houshmandzadeh is first, having caught 112 passes in 2007.
Green also leads the AFC in receiving yards, barely ahead of Indianapolis' Reggie Wayne (1,315) and Denver's Demaryius Thomas (1,312). He'll attempt to be the first Bengals player to lead the conference in receiving since Johnson also did that in 2006.
Most notable, Green currently has 160 career receptions, he needs nine Sunday to pass Marques Colston and set the NFL record for most receptions in first two seasons.
Of course, don't expect the humble Green to be charting his catches or yards against Baltimore. Or even paying attention anytime before the season ends.
“No, man,” he said. “I see that stuff on the Internet, but the only stat around here that matters are these wins and losses and trying to get to a Super Bowl. I don’t even care for that stuff. It’s a team goal. As we win, my stats will come no matter what.”
Green earned his second Pro Bowl nod in as many seasons this week, named a starter Wednesday. Last year he was the first rookie WR voted to Honolulu since 2003. Of course, nobody can accuse Green of being satisfied.
“Two years, two Pro Bowls,” Green said. “That’s got a good buzz to it. But I’ve got a long way to go to be where I want to be. I want to be great. Like I told everybody when I came into this game, I don’t want to be one ordinary receiver. I want to be mentioned with some of the best that ever played.”
Follow Paul Dehner Jr. for Bengals updates on Twitter at @CBSBengals.