AFC Notes: Bengals, Colts, Titans

Bengals

• The Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. projects Bengals RB Samaje Perine taking the fourth running back spot ahead of Rodney Anderson, who has struggled with knee injuries the past few years dating back to his time at Oklahoma. 
• Dehner has Bengals WR Mike Thomas‘ familiarity with the coaching staff from their time together with the Rams giving him an edge to unseat WRs Alex Erickson, Damion Willis and Stanley Morgan for a berth on the team. 
• Bengals TE Cethan Carter‘s role on special teams gives him the edge for the third and final spot at tight end, per Dehner.
• Dehner mentions to keep an eye on the Bengals adding a free agent or cap casualty off waivers at defensive end to bolster their depth there. 
• Dehner has the team keeping five linebackers with veteran Austin Calitro earning the nod over seventh-round LB Markus Bailey, who should still figure in the team’s practice squad plans. 
• At cornerback, Dehner notes the back of the roster is wide open. He has LeShaun Sims and Tony Brown making the team ahead of Winston Rose, Torry McTyer and Greg Mabin for now.
• Bengals No. 1 overall QB Joe Burrow has worked out with WR John Ross multiple times since the draft. (Tyler Dragon)
• Bengals S Vonn Bell received a $1 million reporting bonus for arriving to the start of training camp. (Field Yates)

Colts

• Per the Athletic’s Mike Sando, NFL evaluators were split on whether new Colts QB Philip Rivers had more left in the tank or if last season was a harbinger of his decline. One GM said his supporting cast with the Colts should be better: “I think he has a chance to be pretty good in Indy in the dome with a good line, because he can still throw when he has time. I think a lot was weighing on him last year and the team moved and the writing was on the wall they were going in a different direction. I would be surprised if this year he doesn’t come back and say, ‘Don’t write me off yet, I can still do this.’”
• Colts released TE Matt Lengel. (NFLTR)
• Colts placed TE Mo Alie-Cox, DE Jegs Jegede and DE Kemoko Turay on the active/PUP list. 

Titans

• Titans HC Mike Vrabel said as of right now there is no scheduled visit on the docket for free-agent DE Jadeveon Clowney, per ESPN’s Turron Davenport. 
• Jim Wyatt of the team website believes Titans OT Dennis Kelly is the present for the team at right tackle while first-round OT Isaiah Wilson is the future. 
• As for when the future will become the present, or when Wilson will take over as the starter, Wyatt notes Kelly has a strong head start after signing an extension this offseason and the lack of practice time for rookies. 
• After opting out, Titans UDFA OL Anthony McKinney will keep his $12,500 signing bonus, but does not qualify for the NFL’s salary advance. (Paul Kuharsky)
• John Streicher, a former assistant to Mike Vrabel, has a new title as coordinator of football development but is still expected to remain Vrabel’s right-hand man. (Kuharsky)