AFC Notes: Bengals, Steelers, Texans

Bengals

• Given how often the Bengals play in 11 personnel (one running back, one tight end, three wide receivers), the Athletic’s Paul Dehner Jr. says there’s not a drastic need to add another tight end to replace Tyler Eifert. 
• Between C.J. Uzomah and 2019 second-round TE Drew Sample, Dehner writes the Bengals have enough depth to wait until Day 3 to add another tight end. 
• Per ESPN’s Ben Baby, Bengals HC Zac Taylor repeated the team will keep all its options open with QB Andy Dalton: “I think there’s a lot of unknowns right now on what the offseason is going to look like.”
• Taylor said the team’s big-money splashes in free agency weren’t about sending a message to LSU QB Joe Burrow: “The message is just that we’re trying to improve our team… There’s no side message we’re trying to send to anybody.” (Baby)
• Taylor told reporters Bengals WR A.J. Green is fully healthy and working out in Atlanta: “Everything’s been positive with A.J. He’s fully healthy.” (Baby)
• New Bengals DT D.J. Reader is expected to be a three-down player for Cincinnati, per Taylor: “He’s really going to help us up front.” (Baby)
• Taylor mentioned new S Vonn Bell is expected to start, though he didn’t say how exactly the threesome of Bell, Jessie Bates and Shawn Williams would be deployed. (Baby)
• Asked about teams inquiring with trade offers for the No. 1 overall pick, Taylor said, “no comment.” (Tyler Dragon)

Steelers

• The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly examined Steelers RB James Conner‘s workload and found his effectiveness declines after 17 touches in a game.
• Conner also suffered his two significant injuries in the past two seasons after his 17th touch of the game. Kaboly also points out four of his five career fumbles have come late in games after his 17th touch. 
• Kaboly says the Steelers have traditionally preferred to use a workhorse approach instead of a committee in their backfield. While GM Kevin Colbert has expressed confidence in Conner’s rehab, there’s a good chance Pittsburgh drafts another running back: “We’re confident that he will be prepared physically to face that challenge. That’s not going to be a question. But again, it’s our job to make sure we have options and alternatives and competition ready to go, and that’ll be what we’re working on.”

Texans

• According to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, Texans CB Vernon Hargreaves‘ one-year deal is for $1.325 million and includes a $250,000 signing bonus, $825,000 base salary and up to $250,000 in per-game active roster bonuses.
• Texans LB Tyrell Adams‘ one-year, $970,000 deal includes a $60,000 signing bonus and $910,000 base salary while counting $810,000 against the cap under the veteran salary benefit. (Wilson)
• Notre Dame S Alohi Gilman had a private visit with the Texans that was canceled due to the shutdown. (Justin Melo)
• The Texans contacted Washington DB Myles Bryant. (Wilson)