AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• According to ESPN’s Ben Baby, Bengals fourth-round G Michael Jordan will be out for at least a week with a knee injury. 
• Bengals DE Kerry Wynn is in the concussion protocol while CB B.W. Webb is day-to-day. 

Ravens

• According to the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, while the Ravens have a demonstrable need in the secondary, it’s hard to envision them seeing Dolphins DB Minkah Fitzpatrick as the type of “truly unique” situation that would merit trading a first-round pick for. 
• Zrebiec adds the Ravens have already made major investments in their secondary, signing slot corner Tavon Young to a three-year, $25.8 million deal and S Earl Thomas to a four-year, $55 million deal this offseason.
• Ravens HC John Harbaugh said S Brynden Trawick picked up an elbow injury that could put his availability next week into question: “We’ll see. It’s not going to be a long-term deal.” (Zrebiec)
• Harbaugh told reporters he wasn’t concerned about reports that Ravens first-round WR Marquise Brown was a witness to his cousin, Patriots WR Antonio Brown‘s, alleged sexual assault of Britney Taylor: “Believe me, it’s the last thing on my mind right now. . . . I trust Dick, Ozzie and those guys to take care of the situation.” (Zrebiec)
• Brown could be compelled by the NFL to talk to their investigators about what he witnessed, though Harbaugh said they would cross that bridge and any attending issues when they get to it: “My focus is on football. If it comes to that, if there is something that needs to be done that way, we have people in the building who look at those things. If they do and I need to be involved in it, I certainly will be. “Until it comes to that, it’s not an issue. We’re not there at this point. I really don’t know and I really don’t care until it becomes something that I need to be concerned with as a coach.” (Jamison Hensley)

Steelers

After starting QB Ben Roethlisberger left Sunday’s game with an elbow injury, the Steelers were impressed with how backup Mason Rudolph stepped into the game and kept the team competitive. The former 2018 third-round pick completed 12-19 of his passes and threw a pair of touchdowns in relief of Roethlisberger in the third quarter.

“You have to be prepared for those situations whenever your number is called,” Rudolph said via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “I thought I was ready. I had a really good feel for our gameplan and what we worked on all week. … I didn’t feel like I was unprepared in any means.”

Rudolph will continue to be relied on if Roethlisberger misses time with his elbow injury. 

“Mason is capable,” Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said. “He’s been a part of this thing. He’s the backup quarterback. We’re capable of functioning in a very normal manner when he’s in there.”

• Per Ryan Recker, Rudolph said Roethlisberger had complained about pain in his elbow following the loss to the Patriots last week and in the leadup to the Seahawks’ game Sunday. 
• According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, the exact nature of Roethlisberger’s injury is still unknown, though a source called it, “very serious.”
• However, Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports a team source says there’s no reason to believe Roethlisberger’s elbow injury is career-threatening. 
• Roethlisberger has $16 million guaranteed for injury in 2020 and $14 million in 2021, which would leave Pittsburgh with $55 million in dead money if he doesn’t return. (Spotrac)
• Steelers S Sean Davis had an MRI on his shoulder Monday. Davis left the game Sunday after returning for a few plays. (Dulac)
• Pittsburgh cannot re-sign QB Landry Jones as a backup because Jones is contractually committed to the XFL. (Fowler)
• The Steelers will likely look outside the organization to bring in a new backup quarterback. (Dulac)
• The Steelers don’t believe RB James Conner‘s injury is that serious, as Conner was walking around in the locker room after the game. (Fowler)
• Conner said in an interview with 93.7 The Fan that he’s confident he will play Sunday, no tears or anything significant with his knee. (Jeff Hathhorn)
• Former Steelers WR Eli Rogers was at the team facility Monday, but there are no plans to re-sign him. (Mark Kaboly)