AFC North Notes: Bengals, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• Per ESPN’s Ben Baby, Bengals WR A.J. Green says he still has “a little ways to go” in his recovery from an ankle injury before he can play: “Like I said from Day One, if I’m healthy enough to play then I’m going to play. Right now, I still have a little ways to go.”
• Green added his focus isn’t on trade rumors or forcing his way out of town but instead getting healthy and returning to play: “With the season we’ve had, everybody thinks I’m going to be traded. I’m trying to get healthy. I don’t think about getting traded or anything like that. I’m not a guy who waits to get traded or not to get traded. We’ll see what happens.”
• Green told reporters Taylor’s comments last week about not considering a trade didn’t impact whether or not he felt pressure to return before the trade deadline: “Like I said, I’ve been in this league a long time. I already know the ins and outs. At the end of the day, it’s a business. This is a business and I respect anything that happens. But it’s always good that the head coach comes out says (that).” (Baby)
• Bengals OL John Jerry will start at left tackle again on Sunday against the Jaguars. Newly claimed OL Fred Johnson will be first in line as backup. (Jay Morrison)

Ravens

• According to the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens CB Jimmy Smith initially thought he had suffered a season-ending injury to his knee with how loose it felt. 
• Smith says he’ll warm up and could potentially play this Sunday against the Seahawks but he added that wants to take it slow with Baltimore’s bye the week after. (Zrebiec)
• New Ravens CB Marcus Peters may or may not play this week as he acclimates to his new team following a trade from the Rams. Ravens DC Don Martindale is ready to have Peters on the field as soon as possible, though: “He said he’d let me know by Friday if he’s ready to go the whole (game) and I said, ‘Just lie to me and tell me you are and we’ll just go play you.'” (Zrebiec)

Steelers

Steelers owner Art Rooney II tells Ian Rapoport of NFL Media that he’s comfortable letting the scenario involving long-time GM Kevin Colbert, who is in the final year of his contract, play out and revisiting it after the draft.

“Not much to say about Kevin at this point other than we agreed to talk after the season which is the way we normally have done Kevin’s contract,” Rooney said. “So, it wasn’t anything unusual and so after next year’s draft we’ll sit down and see where we go. Overall, Kevin has done a great job for us certainly his decision in terms of how we proceed. I think he’s at a point in his life where he’s got to make some decision on those kinds of things. Right now, we’re in the middle of the season, he’s in the middle of getting ready for next year’s draft. None of us are too worried about the contract right now.”