AFC Notes: Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

Browns QB Baker Mayfield shouldered the blame for the team’s loss to the Jets on Sunday. 

“Plain and simple, I have to hold on to the damn ball,” Mayfield said of his two fumbles on Cleveland’s final two drives, via ESPN.com. “We had exactly what we needed to win this game. And I didn’t do good enough. That’s it.”

“Put it on me, for not doing my job, for not playing at a high level like I should have, for not getting these guys going and finishing out this game.”

• NFL Media’s Tom Pelissero says Browns WRs Jarvis Landry, Rashard Higgins, Khadarel Hodge and Donovan Peoples-Jones were exposed as high-risk contacts while in the team’s recovery pool area with LB B.J. Goodson, who later tested positive. 
• The NFL reviewed video which showed at least one of the players wasn’t wearing a mask properly during another interaction. While sharing a recovery pool isn’t a violation of the NFL’s COVID-19 protocols, it is a potential venue for exposure given duration, proximity and ventilation. 

Ravens

• According to the Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec, Ravens strength coach Steve Saunders was suspended 30 days for breaking the league’s COVID-19 protocols by not wearing a mask in the team facility, playing a major role in the team’s outbreak last month. 
• Saunders’ suspension ended this week and he was on the field for pre-game warmups Sunday before the Ravens played the Giants. 

Steelers

• CBS Sports’ Jason La Canfora writes the Steelers have not yet had serious internal discussions evaluating QB Ben Roethlisberger and his level of play in 2020, those are set for after the season. 
• La Canfora says Steelers HC Mike Tomlin will have a major voice in those discussions given how year-to-year GM Kevin Colbert is at this point. 
• The Steelers are still hopeful Roethlisberger will be fine and La Canfora also points out Tomlin and Roethlisberger are close and heavily invested in each other. 
• The good news is that Roethlisberger looked much better on Sunday and helped the team come from behind in a win over the Colts.