AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

Bengals OC Brian Callahan said they do not want QB Joe Burrow to take as many hits as he has up to this point, but his “style of play” can leave him vulnerable at times.

“You don’t want your quarterback to get hit as much as he has,” Callahan said. “Some of those are on protection, just pure pass protection. Some of those are on him and the style of his play. The play is never over for him. He does everything he can to keep it alive.”

Bengals HC Zac Taylor added that Burrow is known for taking chances because it can lead to “explosive plays.” 

“That makes Joe the player that he is,” Taylor said. “He’s not afraid to take those hits and put himself in those positions because it means explosive plays. There is a balance of being smart and putting yourself in that position.”

• Bengals OL coach Jim Turner said seventh-round OL Hakeem Adeniji is getting extra reps at the center position to “get familiar with the position.” (Ben Baby)

Browns

• Browns ST coordinator Mike Priefer says that RB D’Ernest Johnson, WR Donovan Peoples-Jones, RB Dontrell Hilliard, and WR Ryan Switzer are all candidates to replace WR JoJo Natson as the Browns’ kick returner. (Nate Ulrich)
• Browns’ G Joel Bitonio has a back issue that has been bothering him since the game against Washington and will be practicing, as well as monitoring how he feels throughout the week. (Mary Kay Cabot)
• Browns’ WR Odell Beckham was added to the injury report on Thursday with a back injury and was limited during practice. (Petrak)
• Browns’ WR Jarvis Landry believes the team will continue to open things up in the passing game, as he still hasn’t caught a touchdown pass this season: “Our team is built for however the day looks that day. We just got to continue to trust that. Whatever’s working that day is what we have to go with.” (Tony Grossi)
• Landry on QB Baker Mayfield telling teammates to be patient during last week’s game against Washington: “Guys want the ball, there’s no question about that. But obviously, the most important thing is winning. We definitely want to contribute in the passing game.” (Grossi)
• Landry also addressed his ongoing rehab from hip surgery during the offseason: “I still have a couple more weeks to where I need to be.” (Grossi)
• Browns’ HC Kevin Stefanski said that CB Denzel Ward would try and practice with his groin injury but would be limited. Hunt will also be limited due to a groin injury he has been struggling with. (Grossi)
• Browns’ DC Joe Woods said LB Mack Wilson will be more involved this week, especially in nickel and sub-packages. (Petrak)

Ravens

• Ravens’ QB Lamar Jackson plans to move on from Monday’s loss to the Chiefs: “We hate the outcome of the game but a lot of football left.” (Jamison Hensley)
• Ravens’ HC John Harbaugh explained why the Ravens weren’t running the ball as much on Monday night and backed OC Greg Roman‘s play calls: “I don’t think we got away from the run after the first series. Nobody looks at the play-calling more than Greg Roman, who in my opinion, is one of the best play-callers in the NFL and has proven that. We’re a running team. We want to run the ball as much as we can. We also want to be productive in the passing game. The more first downs you get, the more drives you extend, and the more opportunities you have to both run and pass.” (Hensley)

• Ravens’ DC Don Martindale opened up about the team’s loss to the Chiefs: “One of the things that stood out to me was third down. We have to get off the field on third down. This isn’t the first time that we’ve had a game like that. We got all eyes forward to Washington.” (Jeff Zrebiec)
• Raven’s OC Greg Roman recapped the matchup with Kansas City in which they fell short: “Any time you lose, you’re going to have laments. I always look at myself first. But really and truly, we’re going to be who we are. We’re going to be us. We’re going to run it, we’re going to throw it. We just got to make plays and execute. We have to try and create some easier completions as coaches and we just have to execute better. There were plays to be made and we just didn’t make them. There’s a lot to be learned from that game. Our job is to answer the question of why. We try to move forward based on that.” (Zrebiec)