AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

Bengals WR A.J. Green has looked an awful lot like a 32-year-old receiver who has barely played the past two years and less like his formerly elite self. Green has caught just 14 of his 33 targets and he’s last in the league in the NFL’s NextGen separation stats. However, Bengals HC Zac Taylor is confident Green is just shaking off the cobwebs. 

“His time will come,” Taylor said via Tyler Dragon of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “There are going to be moments where he has unbelievable games and he’s going to help us win here. It’s tremendous to have that guy as a captain and a part of this offense and this team.”

• Bengals DE Carlos Dunlap said he’s been benched and his role reduced to third-down pass rusher in Week 5 against the Ravens: “It appears we have a good game plan but I would like to be a part of it.” (Ben Baby)
• Dunlap learned about the benching from seeing the change to the posted depth chart, which didn’t sit well with him: “You would think common decency would be something like that. I’m not injured. This is a business and this is the kind of business they want to do.” (Jay Morrison)
• When he did talk to the coaches, Dunlap said his run defense was cited as the reason: “Evidently I didn’t make enough tackles in the run game.” (Dragon)

Browns

• Per Nate Ulrich of the Akron Beacon-Journal, Browns WR Jarvis Landry said he hasn’t seen WR Odell Beckham this healthy, content and focused since they were teammates in college. 
• Beckham agreed with that characterization by Landry. (Scott Petrak)
• He added being a year removed from the core muscle injury he dealt with last season is a major factor in how he feels in 2020: “Way different. I had to really strain heavy last year. I’m definitely, I’m stronger, faster than I was last year…overall, healthier.” (Keith Britton)
• Browns DC Joe Woods said LB Mack Wilson still isn’t 100 percent but as he gets healthier they’ll look to expand his role from just the base defense. (Petrak)
• The Browns are bringing in TE Jordan Franks for a visit this week. (Albert Breer)

Ravens

• According to the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens QB Lamar Jackson missed his second straight day of practice Thursday with a knee injury. 
• CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora says he continues to hear the Ravens are being cautious with Jackson and he should still play this week. 
• Ravens DC Don Martindale says CB Anthony Averett is the focus of a lot of gameplans as the perceived weak link in the secondary but he’s holding up well: “Stevie Wonder can see that you have Marlon [Humphrey] out there doing what he does and you have Marcus Peters doing what he does … you know who they’re going to go after and he knows that.” (Jamison Hensley)
• Ravens first-round LB Patrick Queen has struggled through Baltimore’s first four games but veteran OLB Pernell McPhee still sees a bright future for the rookie: “I think he’s the future of the defense. He’s a very good talent and they made a great decision when they drafted him. When you watch the film, you can see he’s the future.” (Zrebiec)