AFC Notes: Bengals, Colts, Jets

Bengals

• Bengals HC Zac Taylor said Trey Hopkins will start at center and rookie Michael Jordan at left guard. (Ben Baby)
• According to Taylor, former first-round pick Billy Price will come off the bench. (Ben Baby)

Colts

Colts GM Chris Ballard made it clear that they believe Jacoby Brissett as their starting quarterback moving forward. However, they’re still not going to ask him to be Andrew Luck. 

“We’ve got a good football team,’’ Ballard said, via CBS 4 Indy. “This is a good football team. We’re young, good on both fronts, some good, young skill players and a good young quarterback in Jacoby Brissett.

“We’re not gonna ask Jacoby Brissett to be Andrew Luck. Andrew Luck was a unique, unique player. But Jacoby Brissett is a winning football player in this league. Jacoby Brissett is a rare, rare leader. He is. He’s a rare human being, man. The locker room loves Jacoby Brissett. They love him.”

• Stephen Holder says he would be “stunned” if the Colts aren’t already working “feverishly” to make a quarterback move of some kind now that Luck has surprisingly retired from the NFL.
• Jimmy Kempski of Philly Voice mentions that Eagles backup QB Nate Sudfeld could be a trade option that makes sense for the Colts.
• The Eagles signed Josh McCown last week and it’s clear that they plan to have him in place as their backup, which means they’ll need to move on from one of their backups.
• Sudfeld worked with Colts HC Frank Reich while in Philadelphia few years ago and GM Chris Ballard attempted to sign him off of the Eagles’ practice squad.
• Kempski says he would shoot for a fourth-round pick in return for Sudfeld if he was the Eagles, but settle for a fifth-rounder. 

Jets

• Rich Cimini says it’s “unrealistic” to expect Le’Veon Bell to be his vintage self in Week 1, considering that he hasn’t played a game in 20 months, has gotten no preseason work, and no practice with the starting offensive line because of injuries and the recent addition of Ryan Kalil.
• Cimini mentions that the Jets could have Bell share the load with Ty Montgomery. 
• Ralph Vacchiano of SNY writes that the Jets need to trade for Texans OLB Jadeveon Clowney.