AFC Notes: Diontae Johnson, Zay Flowers, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

• Browns HC Kevin Stefanski said he feels good about Myles Garrett (shoulder) playing in Week 13 and will continue observing him this week: “I do. We’ll see as week goes on,” via Zac Jackson. 
• Stefanski confirmed that veteran QB Joe Flacco will be Dorian Thompson-Robinson‘s primary backup in Week 13 but will start if Thompson-Robinson isn’t cleared from the league’s confusion protocol, via Ian Rapoport.

Ravens

Ravens OC Todd Monken said they are looking to get first-round WR Zay Flowers more involved on downfield passes and getting him in space. 

“We’re always trying to look for opportunities for [Zay Flowers] and some of our other players to get the ball down the field; sometimes it [doesn’t] present itself. The other night, he was certainly in some of those pockets. [On] some of the plays we may have checked the ball down, we were trying to get him down the field. He’s a guy you’re trying to get the ball to in a number of ways. Where there is space, that’s good for him. Certainly, putting it down the field … To me, the biggest thing is how do you get him the ball in space? It’s not even so much down the field as where can you get him where he’s hard to bring down? He can turn a short pass into an explosive [play], so those are the things that we’re constantly trying to work through, as [we are] with all of our skill players,” Monken said, via RavensWire. 

Steelers

• ESPN’s Dan Graziano and Jeremy Fowler note the Steelers think they are in a good place moving forward with WR Diontae Johnson after he took accountability for his lack of effort on a play and apologized to the whole team. 
• Johnson received scrutiny for not trying to jump on a loose ball after RB Jaylen Warren committed a fumble in Week 12. Johnson said he made a mistake and feels the moment doesn’t define him as a player: “Nobody is out there trying to mess up. I’m human just like everybody else out there. … That’s not me as a player. That one play doesn’t define me. It never will. From here on out, going forward, just be smart. Just keep playing until the whistle blows,” via Brooke Pryor.