AFC Notes: Bengals, Colts, Ravens

Bengals

Bengals owner Mike Brown told reporters on Tuesday that he did not expect a grievance to be filed from free agent S Eric Reid after they brought him in for a visit.

“Do I regret stepping into it the way that I apparently did? I think you know the answer to that,” Brown said, via Paul Dehner Jr. of the Cincinnati Enquirer. “It has become a grievance, a lawsuit. I don’t want to get into that matter here. I think my counsel would appreciate my silence on the matter here and suggest I say what I have to say to him.”

Brown added that Reid’s grievance caught him off guard and surprised him.

“Am I a bit surprised about how it formed up? It was a quick-forming thunderhead,” Brown said. “I didn’t expect it, yes.”

Colts

Kevin Bowen of 1070 The Fan writes that Colts S Clayton Geathers‘ knee injury is not expected to linger and is about “80-85 percent” recovered, while GM Chris Ballard said the safety is “pretty close” to coming off the PUP list.

“How long he’s on (PUP), I’m not quite sure, but he’s pretty close. He’s worked his tail off and he’s pretty close to being ready to go,” Ballard said.

Regarding first-round S Malik Hooker‘s recovery from a torn ACL, Ballard expects the rookie to “be good” for the second half of the preseason and “into the season.”

“We think he will be good for the second part of the preseason and into the season,” said Ballard. “Anytihttps://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1022136632856731654me you are coming back from an ACL it takes time though.”

Ballard added that OL Deyshwan Bond (leg) is “close” to being fully recovered and LT Anthony Castonzo (hamstring) is not expected to miss more than “a couple days” of training camp.

• According to Ian Rapoport, it sounds like Colts QB Andrew Luck has amped up the throwing and has been “firing several balls in practice.” Rapoport adds that while media has only seen him throw lightly, Luck has been able to let loose and his arm strength is close to where he was pre-injury.
• Colts new HC Frank Reich said they don’t have to overreact and play Luck a ton more in the preseason than normal, but they still plan on him seeing time against the Seahawks in the first preseason game. (Tom Pelissero)https://twitter.com/TomPelissero/status/1022124033947643904
• Colts RB Marlon Mack told reporters Wednesday that he played all of last season with a shoulder injury and had surgery after the season. (Tom Pelissero)

Ravens

Ravens HC John Harbaugh said that first-round QB Lamar Jackson will see some amount of playing time in 2018, but Joe Flacco will operate as their starting quarterback.

“One way or another, he’s going to be out there, taking snaps,” said Harbaugh, via John Kyrk of the Toronto Sun.

Harbaugh added that he views Jackson as a “weapon” but they intend on keeping him as a quarterback.

“Lamar is also a weapon for us, who can play quarterback. And we’re going to play Lamar at quarterback … So we’re going to play all of our good players. I don’t see why we wouldn’t. You’ve got this first,” said Harbaugh.