A.J. Green has interest in signing a long-term contract with the Cincinnati Bengals.

Green wants to avoid a situation in which he is franchised.

Contract negotations between Green and the Bengals were paused when he got hurt and they've now resumed.

The Cincinnati Bengals will bench Andy Dalton in exchange for Ryan Finley as they head into their bye week.

Dalton is the winningest quarterback in Bengals' franchise history.

Finley was a fourth round pick by the Bengals in 2019 out of NC State.

A.J. Green says the Cincinnati Bengals' 0-7 start won't affect his timeline to return from an ankle injury.

"Everybody knows what type of guy I am," Green said. "I'm not going to fake anything. I'm not going to milk anything. When I'm ready to play, you know it's time for me to go. It doesn't matter what the record (is). Nobody can hold me back when it's time to play."

Green has been out since he suffered an ankle injury during the team's first practice of the season.

It was reported on Sunday by Adam Schefter that Green is not expected to return until after the Oct. 29 trade deadline.

A.J. Green has yet to play this season because of an ankle injury, but his name has been mentioned in trade rumors as the Cincinnati Bengals remain winless.

Zac Taylor tried to squash the rumors on Thursday.

"I've heard the speculation. We are not trading that guy," Taylor said.

Green told the Bengals' website that his phone has been buzzing since his name first circulated in trade rumors.

"I tell everybody I haven't heard anything," the wide receiver said. "I don't fantasize about anything like that. I'm just trying to get healthy and go from there."

The Cincinnati Bengals are 0-5, A.J. Green is in the final year of his contract and the wide receiver has yet to play this season because of injury.

There have been rumors that a trade could be possible, but Green says he hasn't heard anything.

"I tell everybody I haven't heard anything," he said. "I don't fantasize about anything like that. I'm just trying to get healthy and go from there. I'm prepared for anything. A trade's not going to change who I am. I'm still going to play. I’m still going to be A.J."

If the NFL season ended after Week 5, the Cincinnati Bengals would have the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Washington Redskins and Miami Dolphins, currently slated to pick second and third, respectively, play one another on Sunday. After the Bengals, Redskins and Dolphins, the projected draft order through five weeks is as follows:

4. New York Jets

5. Denver Broncos

6. Atlanta Falcons

7. Miami Dolphins (via Pittsburgh)

8. Arizona Cardinals

9. Los Angeles Chargers

10. New York Giants

John Ross is still undergoing tests, but he's expected to miss "a few weeks" after sustaining a shoulder injury on Monday night.

The Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver was slammed to the turf in the fourth quarter against the Pittsburgh Steelers, with his right shoulder sustaining most of the impact.

Ross was a first-round pick in 2017.