AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

Throughout the 2019 season, Bengals HC Zac Taylor went to talk to reporters time and time again with hope that WR A.J. Green would be ready to play soon. Green tore ligaments in his ankle on the first day of training camp and initially was only projected to miss a few games. But rehab did not go smoothly, and Taylor’s hope worked against him as Green spent 14 weeks on the active roster before revealing he wouldn’t play at all in 2019. 

“It’s unfortunate that it was a very difficult injury,” Taylor said via Marisa Contipelli of the team website. “At the end of the day, wishful thinking it wouldn’t be long term, but there was no way of knowing that.”

• Cincinnati will likely place Green on injured reserve next week. (Tyler Dragon)
• Green told reporters that if he was franchise-tagged as expected, he would not participate in OTA’s and might even sit out training camp. (Paul Dehner Jr.)
• Green explained that while he isn’t asking for Falcons WR Julio Jones‘ $22 million per year average, he does want a long-term deal that pays him like one of the best receivers in the league. Green thinks he still has at least four more years of elite play left in him. (Dragon)
• Green added that he understands the Bengals’ position and why they would use the franchise tag on him, but that he has to look out for himself, too: “The tag is $18 million so I’m not running away from that. But that also shows that they’re not committed and in that circumstance, I have to protect myself.” (Ben Baby)
• Bengals G John Miller remains in the concussion protocol. (Baby)

Browns

• Per Scott Petrak of BrownsZone.com, Browns HC Freddie Kitchens said he hasn’t seen anything to suggest WR Jarvis Landry is unhappy and wouldn’t speculate on reports that he told the Cardinals sideline to “Come get me” during Sunday’s loss: “I can only go off of what I’m shown, what they communicate to me. I haven’t seen anything like that.”
• Landry refuted those reports on Wednesday: “I would never look to another team during a game especially that we’re losing and say ‘come get me’ with a worse record than we have. … don’t try to slander my name.” (Jake Trotter)

Ravens

• Per ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Ravens HC John Harbaugh said both LT Ronnie Stanley and LB Chris Board should clear the concussion protocol and practice Wednesday. 
• Harbaugh threw his support behind Ravens OC Greg Roman as a potential head-coaching candidate this offseason: “He would be a great head coach, no doubt about it. Just see how that stuff plays out. I always support our guys if they can get an opportunity to advance as head coaches in this league or in college. That is something that you want.” (Hensley)

Steelers

The Steelers will face RB Le’Veon Bell for the first time since he sat out an entire season rather than play on the franchise tag in 2018 when Pittsburgh faces the Jets this week. Bell didn’t leave Pittsburgh on great terms and the relationship hasn’t improved since then, as Steelers HC Mike Tomlin says he doesn’t keep in touch. 

“I have none,” Tomlin said via Joe Rutter of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I don’t communicate with him. He’s a New York Jet.”

• Steelers signed WR Jamal Custis to their practice squad. (NFLTR)