AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

• Bengals’ QB Joe Burrow discussed the team’s struggles to run the ball so far in 2020: “That’s something that we’re putting an emphasis on, trying to get better. Obviously, our run game isn’t what we expected. I know the O-line takes that to heart, Joe (Mixon) takes that to heart and everybody does.” (Tyler Dragon)
• Bengals HC Zac Taylor said DT Geno Atkins not expected to play in Week 4. (Ben Baby)
• OUT for Week 4: DT Geno Atkins (shoulder), DT Mike Daniels (elbow), LB Logan Wilson (concussion)
• DOUBTFUL for Week 4: CB Mackensie Alexander (ribs, hamstring)

Browns

Browns ST coordinator Mike Priefer said recently signed WR Ryan Switzer will “certainly be in play” as their punt return specialist in Week 4 or 5. 

“We have worked guys,’‘ Priefer said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “We’ve worked Donovan Peoples-Jones and we have worked Dontrell (Hilliard) and (RB) D’Ernest (Johnson). (WR) Ryan (Switzer) will certainly be in play either this week or next week. It just depends on how quickly we get him ready if we need him. We have some candidates. They are all different type returns than JoJo so we have to adjust a little bit of what we do, but that is why we are paid as coaches and players, and we have to go out and do our job.”

Priefer believes that Peoples-Jones can handle punt return duties but the team may need an extra receiver with Odell Beckham Jr. limited this week with a back injury. 

“Being that we are in Big Ten country and he played in the Big Ten, that’s pretty high-level football,” said Priefer. “He had 70 punt returns in his career so he has had the experience and been under that kind of pressure before. Obviously, the NFL is the next step up. He has improved a lot since he has been here – tracking the ball and catching the ball. He is built like a kickoff returner, like we have mentioned before, but he has punt return experience. He is valuable in either phase.”

Priefer mentioned that Browns P Jamie Gillan has been inconsistent this season.

“I’m preaching to him consistency,” Priefer said. “I was thinking about this the other day, and everybody went through it without the preseason – obviously I will never use that as an excuse – but when you have a young punter that doesn’t have a ton of experience and especially at a high level of football, I think the preseason really would have helped him get rolling. This is Week 4. I’ve already talked to him about it.”

• Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said that WR Odell Beckham Jr had an episode with his back on Thursday, but he practiced in full on Friday: “He’s good to go.” (Nate Ulrich)
• As for RB Kareem Hunt practicing on Friday, Stefanski said: “He looked pretty good. He is working through it. We have to be mindful of what he can do, and we will see over the next couple of hours how he responds.” (Adam Caplan)
• OUT for Week 4: DE Adrian Clayborn (hip), LB Tae Davis (elbow), CB Greedy Williams (shoulder)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 4: G Joel Bitonio (back), C Nick Harris (illness), RB Kareem Hunt (groin), LB Jacob Phillips (knee), DE Olivier Vernon (abdomen), CB Denzel Ward (groin)

Ravens

• Ravens GM Eric DeCosta said of signing CB Marlon Humphrey to an extension: “Marlon is the type of player we want in Baltimore. Besides his obvious talents as a playmaking corner, he’s a passionate competitor who craves winning. We are excited that he’s going to remain with us for seven seasons.” (Jamison Hensley)
• Ravens’ DC Don Martindale also discussed the new extension for Humphrey: “I just can’t be more elated for a guy that gets a contract like that. He’s a guy that’s worked his tail off since he’s been here.” (Zrebiec)
• Humphrey expressed his thoughts on signing a new deal with a franchise he hopes to remain with for the entirety of his NFL career: “Getting a new deal, it was cool. It’s great to sign that deal and know for the next couple of years, you’re going to be a Raven. Since I’ve been here, I’ve really enjoyed this organization. It was really big for me to stay a Raven.” (Zrebiec)
• Humphrey also said he wasn’t concerned with being the highest-paid player and that staying in Baltimore was all that truly mattered to him: “For me being the highest-paid was never really a factor. The biggest thing was staying a Raven.” (Zrebiec)
• Marlon’s father Bobby played in the NFL, and he credits him with helping him reach this stage of his career: “He’s been there since I was young. Since I was young, I told my Dad that I wanted to play in the NFL and he never let me slip.” (Zrebiec)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 4: LB L.J. Fort (thigh), RB Justice Hill (thigh), S Anthony Levine (abdomen), DT Justin Madubuike (knee), WR Chris Moore (finger, thigh), CB Jimmy Smith (knee), T Ronnie Stanley (shoulder), DE Derek Wolfe (elbow)