AFC North Notes: Bengals, Browns, Steelers

Bengals

First-year Bengals DC Lou Anarumo showed why he was willing to keep only four linebackers and 11 defensive linemen on the initial 53-man roster on Sunday. The Bengals effectively played a 3-4 defense against the Seahawks, with DEs Sam Hubbard and Carlos Dunlap standing up as outside linebackers while DT Ryan Glasgow joined Geno Atkins and Andrew Billings on the line. Anarumo also employed a three-safety look, putting S Shawn Williams in the box and bringing in third safety Clayton Fejedelem.

“Every game plan is going to be different based on who we are playing, but by that token, the strength of our team is up front,” Anarumo said via the Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. “Those guys showed that way yesterday. Based on what the offense is doing we’ll be using the personnel we have to fit what they are doing to try to attack us so it could be different each week. Yesterday’s plan was to get some big guys out there because if you didn’t notice, Seattle has some big guys up front. Our plan was to stop the run. That will be our plan every week is to stop the run and the rest will take care of itself.”

• Bengals waived DE Jordan Willis. (NFLTR)
• Bengals signed LB LaRoy Reynolds.

Browns

• According to Nate Ulrich, the Browns could look to sign another offensive tackle, as HC Freddie Kitchens says the team doesn’t know who the backup will be following OT Kendall Lamm‘s knee injury.
• Browns waived TE Rico Gathers. (NFLTR)
• The Browns brought in RB Marcus Murphy for a tryout on Tuesday. (Howard Balzer)

Steelers

• According to ESPN’s Brooke Pryor, the Steelers feel optimistic about the availability of WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and C Maurkice Pouncey this week after both left Sunday night’s loss with injuries. 
• However, Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said that FB Roosevelt Nix has a knee injury that could sideline him for a few games. 
• Steelers re-signed OLB Jayrone Elliott. (NFLTR)
• Steelers signed QB Devlin Hodges to their practice squad. (NFLTR)