The Cincinnati Bengals have seen their 3-0 start to the 2014 season turn sour, dropping two out of their past three games and only mustering a tie to sit at 3-2-1 heading into Week 8.

Much of that downswing is due to the absence of star receiver A.J. Green, who suffered a nagging toe injury that has kept him out of action since Week 2. After making some progress towards recovery this week, it sounds like Green will miss tomorrow’s (Sun., October 26, 2014) pivotal showdown with the Baltimore Ravens for first place in the AFC North.

According to NFL Network reporter Albert Breer, Green will miss the game because the team is playing it safe with his injury, which has been clarified as being ligament damage underneath his big toe:

Bengals expecting to go w/o AJ Green vs. Ravens. I’m told issue is ligament damage under his big toe. It’s lingering, so they’ll be careful.

— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) October 25, 2014

The news comes as extremely disheartening for the Bengals, who most recently lost a dismal 27-0 shutout to the rising Indianapolis Colts. Their passing game clearly isn’t what it used to be with Green. Although backup Mohamed Sanu has filled in effectively at times, he’s just not the star that Green has been ever since the Bengals drafted him in 2011.

It also doesn’t help that Cincinnati lost receiver Marvin Jones and tight end Tyler Eifert to injury, and their lack of a passing game has made their once-feared rushing attack suffer.

The Bengals desperately need a win this week to have a real chance at repeating as AFC North champions. Can they beat a tough Baltimore Ravens team without their best player?