AFC Notes: Bengals, Colts, Raiders, Steelers

Bengals

• According to Kent Somers, Cardinals OC/OL coach Harold Goodwin has interviewed recently with Bengals and Raiders for their OL coach positions.

Colts

• According to Mike Wells of ESPN, the Colts never offered their head coaching vacancy to recently acquired Bears HC Matt Nagy.

Raiders

Adam Schefter reports that the NFL is officially looking into whether the Raiders violated the Rooney Rule during the process that led to them hiring Jon Gruden as their next head coach.

Fritz Pollard Alliance counsel Cyrus Mehri and N. Jeremi Duru said they are concerned that Raiders owner Mark Davis reached an agreement with Jon Gruden before the team interviewed any minority candidates as required by the NFL since 2003.

“As soon as we learned of the reports, we formally requested that the NFL thoroughly investigate the matter to conclusively determine whether the Rooney Rule was violated — and if it was violated, to impose an appropriate punishment,” they said, via ESPN.

The Raiders could be subject to a fine from the NFL, depending on what the investigation finds.

Steelers

• Steelers CB Artie Burns left Wednesday’s practice after suffering a non-contact right knee injury and was not spotted in the locker room following practice. (Mark Kaboly)
• Ian Rapoport reports that Burns’ ligaments “are intact” following the injury.
• Burns said Thursday that he hyperextended his knee, but he thinks he’ll be able to practice on a limited basis and is hoping to play Sunday. (Ray Fittipaldo)
• Kaboly mentions that CB Cam Sutton would start in Burns’ place if he is unable to play in Sunday’s game.
• Jeremy Fowler of ESPN reports that Burns did not suffer a significant knee injury and that he is “hoping” to play in Sunday’s game against the Jaguars.