Bengals
- Bengals WR John Ross returned to the team on Sunday after leaving to take care of his son. Ross discussed the situation by saying: “There was no chance of me staying. With all due respect, I’m a father.” (Ben Baby)
- According to Ross, this is the most confident he’s been: “Mentally, I feel like this is the most confident I’ve ever been.” (Ben Baby)
- As for Cincinnati declining his fifth-year option, Ross says he understands where the team was coming from: “I wouldn’t have picked up my option, either. It guarantees injury and I’ve been injured every single year.” (Paul Dehner Jr)
- After the injury to CB Trae Waynes, Ali Bhanpuri of NFL.com thinks that the Bengals would be wise to attempt to sign top free-agent CB Logan Ryan.
- The Cincinnati Bengals brought in four free agents for tryouts on Sunday, according to Albert Breer, including DB Maurice Smith, DB Garrett Taylor, G Reggie McKenzie and C Frederick Mauigoa.
Browns
The Browns announced Sunday that all of their test results that were in question have come back negative and they have re-opened their facility.
- Ian Rapoport reports that Browns CB Kevin Johnson, who was released from the hospital on Friday after lacerating his liver, is going through the protocol to rejoin the team and be back on Tuesday.
- From there, Johnson will have a two-week ramp-up/conditioning and then get liver scans. Rapoport says there’s a chance he misses just a week or two of the 2020 season.
- Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said RB Nick Chubb officially cleared the league’s concussion protocol. (Scott Petrak)
- Browns DE Myles Garrett said he strained a hamstring while running but is not concerned that it may be a lingering injury. (Nate Ulrich)
- Garrett said he will not hold back when practicing against Browns’ first-round LT Jedrick Wills: “I’m going to give him everything I’ve got to give him the feel for what it’s like in games.” (Scott Petrak)
Ravens
Ravens’ assistant HC David Culley said QB Lamar Jackson missed Saturday’s practice given it was a scheduled rest day.
“What he’s getting right now is a day he normally gets. He’s been throwing the ball all training camp and the arm gets tired every now and then. This is just part of the rest that he has gotten in previous camps,” said Culley, via Jamison Hensley.
Ravens QBs coach James Urban called winning a Super Bowl “an obsession” for Jackson.
“It’s short of an obsession, but it’s an obsession, if you know what I’m saying. This is what his goal is: To lead this franchise to a Super Bowl,” said Urban, via Hensley.
- Ravens HC John Harbaugh said it’s DeShon Elliott’s time now: “It’s his time, so let’s go.” (Jeff Zrebiec)
- Regarding the Ravens’ decision to release S Earl Thomas on Sunday, Adam Schefter explains that the default language pertaining to the $10 million of guaranteed salary he’s owed for the 2020 season is not expected to come into play as he did not default under terms of his individual player contract. According to Schefter, the situation is expected to come down to an interpretation of Notice Of Termination.
- Schefter says there could be a hearing as early as this fall, but no resolution is likely until the 2021 offseason.
- Ian Rapoport mentions that Thomas’ contract has specific, player-friendly language explaining that his guaranteed money can be voided upon suspension and not fines. However, Thomas was not suspended prior to his release, which likely helps his case.
- Thomas will count $5 million in 2020 and $10M in 2021 in dead money on the Ravens’ salary cap, assuming they can support the voiding of his $10 million salary guarantee this season. Baltimore will carry an additional $4 million cap hit until the grievance is resolved. (Tom Pelissero)
- Thomas’ contract includes offset language, so whatever he earns with his next team would be deducted from what the Ravens are on the hook for.
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