FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – New England’s Aqib Talib quieted one of the top receivers in the league last week. All the Patriots’ shutdown cornerback has to do this week is exactly that all over again.

After blanketing Atlanta’s Julio Jones during New England’s 30-23 victory Sunday night, Talib will now draw Cincinnati’s A.J. Green when the Patriots (4-0) meet the Bengals (2-2) on Sunday.

Jones entered his clash with Talib tied for the NFL lead in receptions with 27 while amassing a league-leading 373 yards. Talib held him to just three catches for 22 yards on his first 10 targets, and hauled in a key interception on a deep pass in the fourth quarter.

Despite a struggle last week against Cleveland, Green enters Sunday with 26 catches, 300 yards and three touchdowns. It will be another Talib test.

“This isn’t my second game of the season, or my life or nothing,” Talib said. “I’ve been doing it for a while now.”

Talib takes pride in his work week, noting that the film sessions and the workouts — both physical and mental — never end regardless if he’s preparing for Jones, Green or anyone else.

“Julio Jones was done at about 12 o’clock on Sunday,” Talib said, meaning midnight, around the time the Falcons’ loss to the Patriots ended. “Me personally, to be honest, I go home, I watch the tape, be up all night, and before I go to sleep, the next thing I watched was Cincinnati.

“So I’ve been off Atlanta. It’s been Cincinnati since early Monday morning.”

Perhaps that’s why the Patriots traded a fourth-round pick to Tampa Bay for Talib last season, then signed him to a one-year deal in the offseason. He’s proven worthy so far, helping shore up a porous pass defense. He already has four interceptions this season.

“Whatever he’s asked to do — man coverage, zone coverage, tackling, special teams, whatever — he really works hard, competes hard and is a smart guy with good skills,” said Coach Bill Belichick.

Green was drafted two spots before Jones in 2011. He has helped lead a Bengals resurgence on offense, though he was held to 51 yards on seven catches vs. the Browns.

“He’s A.J. Green. He brings his own stuff to the table,” Talib said, comparing him to Jones. “He has his own quarterback. He’s just different.”

Patriots safety Devin McCourty, however, holds the two in the same regard.

“They’re both great players,” he said. “They both do a great job for their team, going up, getting the ball, making plays. They’re more similar than different.”

 

THE PATRIOTS HAVE placed defensive tackle Vince Wilfork on injured reserve and signed wide receiver Austin Collie.

They also released rookie tight end Zach Sudfeld after he struggled following an impressive preseason.

Wilfork tore his right Achilles tendon in the first quarter of Sunday night’s 30-23 win over the Atlanta Falcons.

Collie spent his four pro seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, catching 173 passes for 1,845 yards and 16 touchdowns.