AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

Bengals HC Marvin Lewis was unclear on Tuesday about TE Tyler Eifert‘s recovery from back surgery and the team should know more as time goes on.

“He’s been feeling good about things and they’ve been feeling good about things,” Lewis said, via Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “As time goes on and we start to play football, then we’ll have an idea of where he is.”

Lewis added that Eifert left Tuesday’s practice but is unsure whether the tight end aggravated an injury.

“Well, I don’t know actually,” Lewis said. “He was here all morning and all of a sudden he wasn’t. So I’m sure he’s being dealt with in some kind of medical fashion. That’s the only reason why a guy wouldn’t be here.”

However, Lewis said Wednesday that Eifert hasn’t suffered a setback and they’re just easing him into things.

“There’s no reason to get him jostled,” Lewis said, via Bengals.com. “Just ease his way into things. No setback. We’re trying to make sure we manage everything they want him to do.

“When they tell him they release him, he’ll be ready. The main thing is he keeps up with it mentally. When he was getting the reps he was getting before, when there was a defense over there, it was good.”

Ravens

• According to Jamison Hensley of ESPN, Ravens CB Jimmy Smith was able to participate in Wednesday’s practice just six months removed from an Achilles tear.
• Former NFL defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo took in the Ravens’ minicamp practice on Wednesday. (Jeff Zrebiec)

Steelers

Steelers WR JuJu Smith-Schuster told reporters on Wednesday that he’s dealing with a “frustrating” knee injury.

“Just something that’s been bothering me over time,” said Smith-Schuster, via ESPN.com. “Kind of just adds up and lets me know, ‘Yo, I need to get it checked out.’ We got it checked out.”

• Smith-Schuster was asked if he had surgery, but he deferred that question to HC Mike Tomlin. (Mark Kaboly)