AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

• Bengals HC Zac Taylor announced Friday that RB Joe Mixon is out for Week 7, which means Cincinnati will turn to Giovani Bernard, Samaje Perine and Trayveon Williams to handle the workload.  
• Charles Casserly of NFL.com notes that Bengals’ DE Carlos Dunlap could be on the move this season, and believes that the Seahawks would be a good fit for him. He suggests Seattle trading a fifth-round pick to Cincinnati in exchange for Dunlap and a sixth-round pick.
• Casserly also thinks that Bengals’ WR John Ross has the potential to be traded, and adds that the Patriots could be a landing spot. He suggests New England giving up a sixth-round pick in exchange for Ross and a seventh-round pick.
• OUT for Week 7: CB William Jackson (concussion), RB Joe Mixon (foot)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 7: WR John Ross (illness), S Shawn Williams (hamstring)

Browns

Browns’ QB Baker Mayfield is under a heavy amount of criticism following his performance against the Steelers, but he isn’t letting it bother him.

“I don’t give a damn what they say,’‘ Mayfield said, via Mary Kay Cabot of Cleveland.com. “It’s within this building. We know we can do better. I know I can do better. That’s how it is going to be handled. The outside noise doesn’t matter. They get paid to talk. We get paid to do our work. That is how it is going to be handled.”

Browns’ WR Odell Beckham also made it clear he believes that Mayfield can get the job done in Cleveland.

“For me, it’s just all the same talks it’s always been and rumors here or there or whatever it is,” Beckham said. “I’m here. I have Baker’s back. It’s been the same thing for me. It’s a one-day-at-a-time approach. That was said yesterday, the game was on Sunday and today is Wednesday. Got practice, a bunch of plays, and a bunch of things I need to memorize to get ready for Sunday. It’s all just background noise.”

• Dan Graziano writes that after having conversations with people close to that situation, the Browns’ coaching staff still believes in QB Baker Mayfield.
• However, Graziano points out that Mayfield will need to play better over the remainder of the year, as Cleveland has a big decision looming regarding his fifth-year option next year. The new CBA mandates that the fifth-year option is fully guaranteed at the time it’s exercised when it was previously guaranteed for injury only. It would also run the Browns between $25 million to $26 million.
• Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said TE Austin Hooper had his appendicitis flare up on him and is undergoing surgery on Friday. He’ll be out for Week 7. (Nate Ulrich)
• Charles Casserly of NFL.com mentions that Browns’ TE David Njoku is likely on the move following his trade request and believes the Eagles could be a good fit if they’re willing to trade something in the range of a sixth-round pick for Njoku and a seventh-rounder.
• OUT for Week 7: TE Austin Hooper (illness), LB Jacob Phillips (knee), G Wyatt Teller (calf)
• QUESTIONABLE for Week 7: S Karl Joseph (hamstring), DT Sheldon Richardson (achilles)

Ravens

• New Ravens OLB Yannick Ngakoue said the trade from the Vikings was a “mutual agreement” with Minnesota: “It was a mutual agreement on both sides. It felt like the best fit and the best thing to do at the time. That’s what made me ultimately make the decision to come here.” (Jamison Hensley)
• Ngakoue is from Maryland and says he’s happy to be home: “It feels great coming back home. One of the perks for me is being right by my Mom.” (Jeff Zrebeic)
• Ngakoue did say that he plans to make his Ravens debut this weekend. 
• As for re-signing with the Ravens next year, Ngakoue said: “If it’s meant for me to be here for a long time, then that’s what is and I’ll be more than excited to be back home. This is where it all started with my dream.” (Jamison Hensley)