AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

Curtis Winters, the personal trainer for Bengals WR A.J. Green, said the veteran receiver has trained this offseason with a lot “to prove to everybody.” 

“Even though I don’t think he has anything to prove, I think he wanted to prove to everybody he is the person they thought he was originally,” Winters said, via Ben Baby of ESPN.

Winters said Green’s ankle appears “as strong as it’s ever been” during their workout program. 

“Within a few weeks, I realized his ankle was as strong as it’s ever been,” Winters said.

Green’s goal is to continue playing at a high level and become a Hall of Famer. 

“That’s still the mission to this day,” Winters said. “To be that receiver that when his career is over, that we’ll be there at that ceremony to receive that jacket.”

Browns

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski wasn’t willing to say that WR Jarvis Landry (hip) would be ready in time for the 2020 season opener.

“For each one of our guys, we have a plan,’’ Stefanski said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “We have really smart people here. We have a great training staff and great strength and conditioning staff. We have a plan for each guy, and it varies for each guy because we’re not going to treat a guy, Jarvis for example, the same as we’re going to treat an interior offensive lineman or whatever it may be. We’ll have a plan to bring him along, just like we will really with all of our guys.”

The Browns also had three offensive guards opt-out of the upcoming season and Stefanski says that the team will continue to monitor their options at the position.

“It’s certainly something that we’ll continue to look at,’’ he said. “As it pertains to practice reps, you have to get your starters ready. You also have to get your backups ready this year. We have to be very mindful of how we divvy up those reps. I’ve sat down with the coaches already and we have a plan for that, but I don’t think it is a season where you just say, ‘Hey, I’m just getting my starters ready.’ I think that may not be smart. We need good players. We want to make sure that we’re bringing guys in who have a chance to develop.”

• George Mosher reports that veteran DE Vinny Curry received a more competitive financial offer from the Browns, but he desired to stay in Philadelphia and so he accepted the Eagles offer.

Ravens

• The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec expects Ravens veteran WR Willie Snead to start ahead of third-round WR Devin Duvernay at least to begin the season. 
• 2019 third-round WR Miles Boykin should be the team’s other starting receiver on the outside, per Zrebiec.
• Zrebiec notes the Ravens’ signing of TE Jerell Adams shouldn’t preclude them from also adding TE Delanie Walker if the veteran is interested. However, Walker would be coming in as the No. 3 tight end. 
• Zrebiec says Ravens 2019 fourth-round G Ben Powers could win a starting job ahead of veteran D.J. Fluker and others if he’s improved. He adds Powers could also end up as a trade candidate given his draft status if he doesn’t win a job.