AFC North Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

Despite losing the starting job to rookie Baker Mayfield a few weeks ago, Browns QB Tyrod Taylor says he isn’t looking to be traded.

“Right now, I’m focusing on getting healthy and continue to keep getting better and what I can do for the team, and that’ll do it,” Taylor tells Tony Grossi of ESPN Cleveland.

Taylor did, however, admit that it’s possible things change from his perspective as the trade deadline nears.

“You never know,” Taylor said. “I mean, I’m well aware of all that. I don’t necessarily put it on my thought process every day. I come out each and every day aiming to get better and trying to find things to work on in my game.

“We’ll see. That’s more of a question for my agent. We talk. I wouldn’t necessarily reveal that to the media.”

• The Browns ruled out LB James Burgess (knee) for Sunday’s game and list LB Christian Kirksey (illness) and FS Damarious Randall (heel) as questionable.

Ravens

Ravens CB Jimmy Smith told reporters that he’s “recalibrate” his life after serving a four-game suspension for an incident involving a former girlfriend.

“You guys all know I’ve done this different ways, obviously, but it’s extremely hard,” Smith said, via Jonas Shaffer of the Baltimore Sun. “This one was a little bit different in the sense that I’m a lot older now.

“You get time to kind of recalibrate personally and, I guess, everything. You think about life. But this time, it gave me an opportunity to really sit down and just get that love back, get my body back, get my mind, my personal life, in order.”

• The Baltimore Ravens officially ruled out CB Anthony Averett (hamstring) and OLB Tim Williams (hamstring) declared out for Sunday’s game against Browns.
• The Ravens list TE Hayden Hurst (foot), CB Brandon Carr (knee), DT Willie Henry (abdomen), DB Anthony Levine (hamstring), G Alex Lewis (shoulder), DT Michael Pierce (foot), and LB Za’Darius Smith (hamstring) as questionable.

Steelers

Steelers OC Randy Fichtner admitted that they could do a better job of getting RB James Conner in rhythm in the coming weeks.

“I probably just need to do a better job heating him up,” Fichtner said, via Chris Adamski of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review. “It’s just like quarterbacks, too. You get into a rhythm. And all good running backs, they need that rhythm…

“He’s a tough, hard-nosed inside runner. He’s a capable outside runner. He’s done a really fine job in protection and in routes, so he’s been very complete, if you will.”