AFC Notes: Bengals, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Bengals

• The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. writes the expected competition at right tackle between Bengals OTs Bobby Hart and Fred Johnson hasn’t really materialized. 
• Hart has almost exclusively worked with the first team, while Johnson has had some struggles while working as the second-team right tackle. 
• Dehner notes Johnson saw some reps at guard Monday which was his initial projected position. Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Johnson is still in the mix for “some starting jobs” but Dehner adds the team could also be working on Johnson’s flexibility to be a backup. 
• Bengals RB Joe Mixon missed practice again with what was termed Monday as a “minor injury.” (Dehner)

Browns

Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said they are still evaluating the severity of CB Greedy Williams‘ shoulder injury that he sustained in Monday’s practice. 

“We’ll see,’’ Stefanski said, via Mary Kay Cabot of the Cleveland Plain Dealer. “We’re still evaluating.’’

Cabot, citing a source, reports that Williams’ injury does not appear to be serious. 

As for the Browns potentially pursuing free agent S Earl Thomas, Stefanski said he’s leaving that up to their front office. 

“I’ll leave that in [GM] Andrew Berry’s court,” said Stefanski. 

Stefanski said Browns WR Jarvis Landry (hip) is still working with their medical staff. 

“Jarvis is still getting his work in,’’ said Stefanski. “He continues to work with our people inside.’’

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer doesn’t think the Browns will take a chance on former Ravens S Earl Thomas even with the need at safety given Thomas has been a locker room issue for some time now. 

Ravens

• Former Ravens’ S Earl Thomas’ contract with the team states that a suspension for conduct detrimental to the team would cause a default on his $10 million in guarantees. While the team did not technically suspend him, they will likely file a grievance. (Jeremy Fowler)
• Ravens FB Patrick Ricard played significant snaps at defensive tackle last year, but Baltimore is deep enough on the defensive line that Ricard should be able to focus just on fullback and special teams in 2020. (Zrebiec)
• Ravens 2019 fourth-round G Ben Powers is apparently getting a look at center as the team figures out its interior offensive line but it did not go well Tuesday with three bad snaps in a row. (Jamison Hensley)

Steelers

The theme for Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger‘s offseason has been renewal. Roethlisberger has noticeably slimmed down and despite coming off a serious elbow injury, he says his arm has never felt better. 

“I keep waiting for that day, or the next day after a practice, where I’m like, ‘Oh, there’s that pain I’m used to or there’s that discomfort,’” Roethlisberger said via Yahoo Sports’ Terez Paylor. “When there’s something you’ve been dealing [with] for a long time, you get used to it.”

Roethlisberger’s injury early last season was years in the making, as he dealt with soreness until it finally snapped. Steelers OC Randy Fichtner had noticed Roethlisberger shaking out his arm after throws or tweaking his wrist during meetings for years and only in retrospect realized it was more serious than nagging soreness. But now, even that nagging soreness is gone. 

“Oh yeah, I’ve been feeling this pain in my elbow for probably 13, 14 years,” Roethlisberger said. “I’ve had a small tear in there the whole time … and I dealt with the pain and literally dealt with it in pretty much everything I do. You just kind of get used to it; I’ve had that pain for so long that every day, I keep waiting for it to come back like, where is it, where is it? And luckily, by the grace of God, it hasn’t come back yet. Hopefully, it never does.”

• Steelers hosted WR Saeed Blacknall on a visit.