AFC Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

Browns’ HC Kevin Stefanski spoke about the return of RB Nick Chubb into the lineup, as well as two other players who are returning to full health in G Wyatt Teller and LB Mack Wilson. 

“He looked like Nick looks,” Stefanski said of Chubb, via Scott Petrak of BrownsZone.com. “He was ready to roll out there at practice. Obviously, he is chomping at the bit. He has done everything in this rehab that has been asked of him. As you can imagine, he has attacked it. We will see how the week unfolds here. You are talking about two good football players. If we are able to get them back, I think that will give a boost to our team.”

Browns’ TE Austin Hooper is excited for the return of all his teammates especially after missing two games himself due to an appendectomy.

“It is awesome having Wyatt Teller back and just the juice he brings and the physicality and the nastiness,”  Hooper said. “Definitely a guy that is a lot of fun to play with on game day when he is burying people. Nick obviously is one of the premier backs in this league, so it is definitely awesome having those guys back.”

• Wilson said of his return from a hyperextended knee: “I feel like I’m at 100 percent.” (Scott Petrak)
• The Browns are working out DB Stephen Denmark, G Cordel Iwuagwu, and C Javon Patterson, according to Aaron Wilson.

Ravens

• According to ESPN’s Field Yates, Ravens CB Tavon Young agreed to a reworked deal that converted $2.514 million of his 2020 base salary to a signing bonus and lowered his $5.5 million 2021 base salary to $2.65 million guaranteed. 
• The move likely helps secure Young’s standing on the team in 2021 after being injured for most of the past two years after signing a three-year extension in 2019. 

Steelers

• According to NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero, Steelers’ QB Ben Roethlisberger is allowed to go to the team facility for rehab despite being placed on the COVID-19 list as a high-risk contact as long as he wears appropriate PPE and goes when there aren’t many people at the facility. 
• Despite suffering injuries to both of his knees against the Dallas Cowboys, those aren’t expected to keep Roethlisberger from playing this week if he can clear the COVID-19 protocols. (Ian Rapoport)
• Steelers HC Mike Tomlin is not worried about Roethlisberger playing with zero practice reps: “I have very little concern about it, to be very honest with you.” (Mark Maske)
• Tomlin indicated QB Mason Rudolph would get the bulk of the practice reps as the starter this week as a contingency plan but that doesn’t rule out QB Joshua Dobbs from seeing time as the No. 2 if Roethlisberger can’t play: “I’m not opposed to playing anybody that increases of chances of winning.” (Brooke Pryor)
• Steelers TE Vance McDonald did travel to Dallas on the team plane, which may have led to exposure with other Pittsburgh teammates. (Mark Kaboly)