AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Jaguars

Bengals

Bengals former first-round WR John Ross is still looking to get his career started. Ross barely played as a rookie after ending up in then-HC Marvin Lewis‘ doghouse due to a combination of injuries and inconsistency. Last year, Ross only caught 21 passes, though seven of those were for touchdowns. Entering his third year, Ross is hoping for a breakout. 

“It’s got to be my best year,” Ross said via John Fay of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “I think every year you should want it to be your best year. The expectations I have for myself for this year are way beyond what I’ve done last year and the year before. It’s definitely a huge year. More so for all of us. I’m not a stat guy or anything like that. I kind of want to bring the city something more than just an All-Pro receiver. It’s more of us building together and doing something big for everyone.”

Browns

Former Browns OL coach Bob Wylie said he was surprised when the Browns chose Freddie Kitchens to be the next head coach instead of former defensive coordinator and interim head coach Gregg Williams. 

“That shocked me because Gregg Williams turned the team around,” Wylie told Zach Gelb of CBS Sports Radio, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “In the second half of the season, that’s his work that got it to where it is. My own personal feeling is Gregg was too strong a candidate for the seat. I don’t think [G.M. John] Dorsey wanted to go head-to-head with Gregg like he had to do with Andy Reid in Kansas City, so he kind of filtered Gregg out of the picture and he kept the search going.”

Kitchens started the season as the running backs coach and made a quick, unprecedented ascent to head coach after a strong showing as the team’s offensive coordinator in the back portion of the season. He and QB Baker Mayfield instantly hit it off, and Wylie believes that played a role in Kitchens’ promotion. 

“Baker likes Freddie,” Wylie said. “There’s a good relationship there even though [former Browns quarterbacks coach] Kenny Zampese did all the coaching there. Baker likes Freddie, so that had to [factor] into the decision.”

Jaguars

Jaguars DE Yannick Ngakoue reported to Jaguars training camp by the 30-day deadline to accrue a year of experience toward unrestricted free agency. Ngakoue says it’s now “out of his hands” if he’ll get a long-term deal from the Jaguars before the season starts.

 “They had a chance to sign me for a long-term deal but it didn’t get done. It is what it is,” Ngakoue said via the Athletic’s Phillip Heilman. “I love football, love my teammates, and I’m here to play games.”

• Ngakoue turned down a deal worth around $19 million per season that would have made him the fourth-highest paid pass rusher in the NFL: “I know my value. I know my worth. That’s all I can say. It doesn’t matter about anybody else knowing my value. I showed each and every year. I bet on myself every season. I was a third-round pick, underrated. Bet on myself, I’m still here.” (Heilman)
• Ngakoue said he never considered holding out or requesting a trade. (Heilman)
• Per John Oehser, Jaguars HC Doug Marrone said Ngakoue had no issues passing the conditioning test and will be ready to practice immediately: “He’s ready to go. Yann’s always been in great shape and ready to go. He’s an anxious guy. … If he’s ready to go, he wants to go all the way. That’s just how he’s wired.”
• Marrone added there have been no lingering issues from Ngakoue’s holdout as he sought a new contract: “He has had no issues. He has been awesome. He has been great. He has done everything we’ve asked him to do. The contract thing is part of the business, but as a football player and part of the team he’s great.” (Oehser)