NFL Notes: Bengals, Buccaneers, Chiefs, Patriots & Redskins

Bengals

• Bengals WR A.J. Green told reporters that he’s healthy enough to play in Week 16’s game. (Geoff Hobson)

Buccaneers

Buccaneers DC Mike Smith said Wednesday that he isn’t paying attention to the reports about potential head-coaching opportunities that could be available to him.

“Rumors are rampant this time of the year,” said Smith, via ESPN.com. “I’m enjoying my time here,” said Smith. “I want to make this team the best team it can be. You don’t address rumors. That’s what happens this time of year.”

Chiefs

• Ian Rapoport reports that had the Chiefs not designated LB Justin March-Lillard to return from injured reserve, RB Jamaal Charles likely would’ve been cleared to practice next week and play in January.

Patriots

• Patriots HC Bill Belichick said they were not aware of WR Michael Floyd‘s blood alcohol concentration when they claimed him off waivers from the Cardinals last week. (Mike Reiss)
• Floyd could face jail time for the incident, due to Arizona’s DUI laws. (NFLTR)

Redskins

A league source explained to Ben Standig of Breaking Burgundy that the Eagles’ decision to move on from WR DeSean Jackson a few years ago was due to the influence of Chip Kelly, not executive Howie Roseman.

“[Eagles executive VP of football operations] Howie Roseman was enamored with DeSean back in the day when he was the personnel director,” Standig’s source said. “Once Chip Kelly got there, he hated DeSean and got him out of there. Now that Chip Kelly is gone, Howie Roseman is basically in the driver’s seat. He’s basically going to bring back DeSean as a big [way to show up] Chip Kelly. Will they pay him a little more than what he’s worth to bring him back? Yeah, probably, because DeSean is a very good player though he’ll be 31 [next season]. That’s why I’m fairly confident Pierre will be the one to stay.”

Both Jackson and WR Pierre Garcon will be free agents after this season, but it appears as though Garcon could be the most likely to return next year.

“I don’t believe DeSean wants to stay,” a source tells Standig. “Even if he does, [he] will cost more (than Garcon).”