AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

Bengals OT Cordy Glenn suited up and started for Cincinnati on Sunday for the first time this season, which was shocking given the drama surrounding Glenn and the team this season. The veteran became embroiled in a dispute with the team over how they handled his recovery from a concussion, which combusted in an incident where he was fined $200,000, had to be held back from fighting a member of the coaching staff and was suspended for one game. However, Glenn said he’s moved on and is letting bygones be bygones. 

“Yes. It’s been like that for a while,” Glenn said via the Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. “As soon as the incident happened, I let it go then. I try to press forward every day. I don’t try to hold on to things for long. I try to help the team. That’s all I think about, not so much worrying about things that happened and drag it on. I try to move forward and let it go.”

• Bengals WR A.J. Green did not practice Wednesday. (Geoff Hobson)
• Some have thought Green could sit out the season given Cincinnati’s record and his contract status. But Bengals HC Zac Taylor told reporters “I think he wants to play,” before adding, “I don’t think. I know he does.” (Ben Baby)

Browns

• According to BrownsZone.com’s Scott Petrak, Browns OT Greg Robinson reported to the team with symptoms of a concussion and was placed in the protocol.
• Browns DT Larry Ogunjobi returned to practice following his one-game suspension. (Petrak)
• The Browns worked out Asantay Brown, Robert McCray (signed), Gimel President and Sutton Smith on Wednesday. (Aaron Wilson)
• Browns signed DE Robert McCray to their practice squad. (NFLTR)

Ravens

• Per the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens HC John Harbaugh said C Matt Skura‘s knee injury was significant but the team is hoping he’ll be able to return for the start of next season. 
• Harbaugh pointed out the team is confident in rookie C Patrick Mekari filling in for Skura, adding that it was a “joke” he went undrafted. (Zrebiec)
• There’s a decent chance Ravens DT Michael Pierce is back by Sunday, per Harbaugh. (Zrebiec)
• Ravens placed C Matt Skura on injured reserve. (NFLTR)
• Ravens signed C Jake Brendel.

Steelers

The Steelers elected to bench QB Mason Rudolph for rookie UDFA Devlin Hodges heading into Week 13 against the Browns. Pittsburgh made the move because Hodges protects the ball better and gives the Steelers more of a chance to win, per HC Mike Tomlin, but the coach added that’s not a long-term indictment on Rudolph. The team drafted Rudolph as a potential long-term quarterback and Tomlin says the team could see more of that potential when the offense around Rudolph is back to full strength. 

“In recent quarters of action, we’ve really been bogged down, and that has been due to a lot of things,” Tomlin said via Bob Labriola of the team’s website. “It really goes beyond just Mason and his performance. He has been in and out of the lineup, some running backs and offensive linemen have been in and out of the lineup, we missed some guys at receiver specifically in the last game, the combination of playing without [James] Conner and JuJu [Smith-Schuster], and so maybe some of those negative things have worn away at elements of Mason’s play. He hadn’t protected the ball very well recently like he did at the early portions of his participation.”

• According to Cleveland.com’s Mary Kay Cabot, the Steelers say a report they won’t let fans wearing Browns DE Myles Garrett‘s jersey into the stadium on Sunday is false. 
• Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster has a large brace on his left knee and doesn’t look like he’ll be able to practice. (Chris Adamski)
• Smith-Schuster has cleared the concussion protocol, the team announced. (Twitter)
• Steelers G David DeCastro was fined $14,037 by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct for his actions during the brawl between Pittsburgh and Cleveland. He intends to appeal arguing that he was trying to keep the peace. (Gerry Dulac)