AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens

Bengals

Bengals DT D.J. Reader is confident that he will be โ€œready to goโ€ for the regular season after recovering from a quad injury sustained in Week 5 of last year. 

โ€œI never put a time limit on it, but Iโ€™ll be ready to go when itโ€™s time to go and Iโ€™m out there working with the guys, the training staff is here pushing me,โ€ Reader said, via Laurel Pfahler of the Dayton Daily News. โ€œIโ€™m excited.โ€

Reader describes initially having a difficult time dealing with his injury and has been working hard on rehabbing. 

โ€œThis is the first time Iโ€™ve ever been through an injury, and it was probably the toughest thing of my life the first couple weeks,โ€ Reader said. โ€œJust not being able to do anything, never being down like that. But Iโ€™ve got a strong support system. My mom came down, took care of me for a couple weeks, I was able to spend a lot of time with my son. You get those mental reminders that life is bigger than you and you can do it. Take it a day at a time. I didnโ€™t think about it too much, every day it got better. Itโ€™s been a process, itโ€™s been a grind, itโ€™s been fun though. I wouldnโ€™t have started the journey if I didnโ€™t think I was going to come back. I told myself from Day 1, donโ€™t go out there if youโ€™re going to quit. As soon as I started rehab, I knew what my journey was and how I wanted it to end.โ€

Reader mentioned that heโ€™s cut 20 pounds over the past year by adjusting his eating habits and increasing strength. 

โ€œIt worked out well,โ€ Reader said. โ€œThis year I kind of restructured my body to try to add a little bit more muscle mass to that 320. I think I did a good job. Iโ€™m at 324 right now and I feel good. I feel confident and strong.โ€

Browns

  • Scott Petrak could see Browns TE David Njoku potentially moving ahead of Austin Hooper for the No. 1 tight end role, which would create a difficult decision on whether to let him become a free agent or sign him to a โ€œbig moneyโ€ extension. 
  • However, Petrak does not expect Njoku to receive an extension and doesnโ€™t think he will emerge as their top tight end after already spending four years on the team. 
  • Petrak notes that the Browns are โ€œheavily investedโ€ in Hooper, while there are โ€œmany more deservingโ€ extension candidates on Cleveland. 
  • Petrak writes that Browns G Drew Forbes may have โ€œlost the mostโ€ by opting out of last season given he couldโ€™ve competed with RG Wyatt Teller for the starting job. 
  • Browns S Grant Delpit said heโ€™s on the โ€œback endโ€ of his rehab from a torn Achilles and has worked hard to return: โ€œItโ€™s been a lot. This injury is like nothing Iโ€™ve had before. Iโ€™ve done a lot to come back and rehab. On the back end of the rehab, just trying to get rid of the annoying pain.โ€ (Petrak)
  • Delpit confirmed that heโ€™s on track to be fully recovered in time for training camp. (Petrak)

Ravens

  • ESPN held a mock trade exercise involving Falcons WR Julio Jones with beat reporters standing in for GMs. Atlanta received four offers from the Ravens, Patriots, 49ers and Titans. 
  • Baltimoreโ€™s offer was its 2022 second-round pick and a 2022 fifth-round pick acquired from the Chiefs. It also had the Falcons eating $4 million of Jonesโ€™ $15.3 million base salary. 
  • San Franciscoโ€™s offer was a 2022 second-round pick and a 2023 fourth-round pick and ESPNโ€™s Falcons beat reporter Michael Rothstein accepted that offer over the others. 
  • Ravens HC John Harbaugh confirmed OL Bradley Bozeman will start at center. (Jeff Zrebiec)
  • Harbaugh said Ravens rookie WR Rashod Bateman was held out of practice due to muscle soreness: โ€œThere is no injury, but we want to make sure it stays that way.โ€ (Jamison Hensley)
  • Ravens undrafted rookie DL Xavier Kelly might have torn his Achilles in OTAs on Wednesday, and the Ravens may look to bring in another lineman. (Zrebiec

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