AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

Bengals HC Zac Taylor said he is “excited” to see OT Cordy Glenn back at practice after serving a one-game suspension. 

“Everything is a case-by-case basis. That’s the approach we take today and excited to see what he can do at practice … With all our players we want to operate in the culture we’re setting forth, you communicate with every player on this team daily on the things you want done,” said Taylor, via Geoff Hobson of the team’s official site. 

Glenn explained that his absence for the first six weeks of the 2019 season was due to a concussion.

“I think the only thing that happened honestly is I got hurt,” Glenn said, Ben Baby of ESPN. “That’s just all that happened. It’s not about not wanting to play.”

Glenn mentioned that he has a good relationship with Taylor and hopes to move past this situation. 

“Of course I want to prove myself and do my share around here and help the team win and help out however I can,” Glenn said. “It was just an injury and I’m trying to move forward.”

As for when he could return, Taylor said Glenn must practice before being considered an option to play. 

“We gotta see some people get through practice before we consider playing him, and that hasn’t happened with him,” Taylor said.

• Taylor added that Bengals WR A.J. Green (ankle) and Glenn will not play in Week 8’s game in London. (Geoff Hobson)

Browns

Browns WR Odell Beckham Jr. admitted that he was going through mental battles through the first five weeks of the season, which prevented him from playing up to his standards. 

“I felt like I was letting them down in that way, because of my past experiences and we all have our own internal battles to fight and let go,’’ Beckham said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “So it’s just something that I was dealing with and it’s like not bringing your sword to a fight, like I never want to leave home without it. Or bring just a shield, like I’m not going to have any weapon [for] defense, so it’s definitely time for me to be more for this team, do more for this team, whatever it is we need to do.’’

Regarding their Week 6 loss to the Seahawks, Beckham said he is intent on bringing a high amount of energy each week. 

“I woke up with it on my mind today to have energy,’’ Beckham said. “I hate losing and at times I feel in the past I’ve let the team down as far as not bringing the energy every single day. It’s something I will never not bring to the field again.”

• Albert Breer reports that Browns WR Rashard Higgins and CB T.J. Carrie are two players available for trade. Although, Breer implies that Cleveland’s not shopping them actively.

Ravens

• Albert Breer reports that Ravens TE Hayden Hurst has come up in trade talks.
• Breer notes that Hurst has been beaten out by Mark Andrews for a starting job, despite the fact that he was a first-round pick.
• According to Breer, the Ravens’ answer to teams thus far on trading Hurst has been “no.”