AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

• According to Adam Schefter, it might make sense for Bengals WR A.J. Green not to rush his return from a training camp ankle injury given the Bengals are 0-3 and he’s set to hit free agency after this season. 
• Green has already been ruled out for the next two weeks and Cincinnati has a Week 9 bye. The Bengals and Green were discussing a contract extension before this year, but Green’s injury threw a wrench into those negotiations. 

Browns

• Per ESPN’s Field Yates, Browns WR Antonio Callaway will return from suspension this week. 
• Browns HC Freddie Kitchens confirmed WR Jarvis Landry is in the concussion protocol. (Jake Trotter)
• Kitchens wouldn’t say if he had called NFL head of officiating Al Riveron regarding a fight between Browns WR Odell Beckham and Ravens CB Marlon Humphrey that had Kitchens lobbying for Humphrey to be ejected for choking Beckham. (Nate Ulrich)
• He added he wanted his players, namely Beckham, to be treated fairly by the officials: “I just want to have consistency on how we’re going to deal with things. I don’t like seeing our player on-field and somebody’s hands around his throat. I don’t think that needs to be in our game.” (Scott Petrak)
• The Cleveland Browns worked out TE C.J. Conrad, DL Frank Herron, and DL Jeremiah Ledbetter on Monday. (Howard Balzer)

Ravens

• According to NFL Media’s Mike Garafolo, Ravens S Earl Thomas and DT Brandon Williams had a verbal confrontation in the training room following Baltimore’s 40-25 loss to the Browns. 
• Williams was inactivated for the game following a pregame workout where he was noticeably limited with a knee injury he picked up Saturday. His absence didn’t help a Ravens defensive unit that allowed more than 500 yards of offense to the Browns. 
• Garafolo adds sources tell him other players intervened before the confrontation could turn physical. 
• Ravens HC John Harbaugh said he’s not sure about Williams’ availability in Week 5 but he is not dealing with a long-term injury: “It’s not a long-term injury, for sure. It’s not going to be a surgery or anything like that. I don’t even know if I want to categorize it, because it’s just something that he has to deal with.” (Jamison Hensley)
• Harbaugh added recently-signed LB L.J. Fort will help the team and could play as soon as Sunday: “He’s going to help us on both defense and special teams.” (Jeff Zrebiec)