Cincinnati Bengals receiver A.J. Green will miss his second straight game with a strained hamstring, but he could return before the end of the season, sources told ESPN's Bob Holtzman.
Green's hamstring is healing as expected and although he is a long shot to return next week against the Cleveland Browns, it's not out of the question, sources told Holtzman.
The Bengals host the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.
Coach Marvin Lewis has said repeatedly that he expects Green to be back before the season ends, and that won't change if the Bengals (3-7-1) are eliminated from playoff contention.
Green has missed almost two full weeks of practice after being carted off two plays into the Bengals' game against the Buffalo Bills on Nov. 20. He wasn't present at practice last week, but progressed to exercises on the rehab field on Wednesday and Thursday.
He is still fourth in the NFL in receiving yards despite missing almost two full games. Green is just 36 yards from his sixth 1,000-yard season.