AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Colts

Bengals

Bengals RB Joe Mixon says he’s preparing to handle a massive workload in 2019. 

“I’m trying to be in the best shape to be able to handle that load, because it’s not easy,” Mixon said, via Geoff Hobson of Bengals.com. “I know I could do it. You always have to expect it. Even if it doesn’t happen, you have to always expect it. And I always try to do whatever I can to maximize my ability. I feel like with what I can do, I should be able to do that easily.”

• Tom Pelissero reports that the Bengals are expected to hire Nick Eason as their new DL coach.

Browns

NFL Media’s Daniel Jeremiah says the Cleveland Browns could consider taking Mississippi State DL Jeffery Simmons at No. 17 despite a torn ACL and video from high school showing Simmons striking a woman. 

“If healthy — now he’s coming off the ACL, just happened — he’s a top-five player in the draft, no doubt,” Jeremiah said, via Scott Petrak. “To me, he’s one of the three best players in the whole draft. So if you look at John Dorsey and kind of going on upside and trying to go for it and be aggressive, that’s kind of his mantra as of late, Jeffery Simmons would be a home run pick.”

Simmons tore his ACL during a workout in early February, meaning he could potentially miss the entire 2019 season.  In high school, he was videotaped punching a woman repeatedly as she lay on the ground.  Simmons pled no contest to simple assault, was found guilty of malicious mischief and was fined.  

“Everything I’ve been told by people that have gone to the school there at Mississippi State, he’s been a model citizen,” Jeremiah said. “There have been absolutely no issues there. He’s been on the honor roll. You won’t find anybody to say anything bad about him. But (the Browns) have to kind of navigate through that.  But as a talent, where they’re picking, if for some reason at 17 Jeffery Simmons was there, even though you have to potentially redshirt him for the year, that might be too tempting to pass up in that situation.”

Colts

Colts free agent WR Dontrelle Inman said he’s hoping to not only return for the 2019 season but finish out his career in Indianapolis.

“I definitely want to stay in Indianapolis,” Inman said in a radio interview, via ColtsWire.com. “I don’t want to go anywhere else. I’m a little older in my career. It feels good to just be home, and it would feel amazing to finish in Indy.”

• Joel A. Erickson reports that TE Ross Travis‘ new one-year deal with the Colts is worth the minimum salary of $720,000.