AFC Notes: Justin Fields, Deshaun Watson, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

Mike Sando of The Athletic dove into the options the Browns have in moving on from QB Deshaun Watson if thatโ€™s the direction they eventually have to go.

  • Sando doesnโ€™t believe any other team in the league would want Watson to play for them because of what a league executive told him: โ€œThey could cut him tomorrow and no one would pick him up. I would not want that toxicity to have anything to do with my team build.โ€ 
  • If Cleveland doesnโ€™t want to deal with the massive cap hit of releasing Watson, Sando notes they could trade him if Watson waives his no-trade clause.
  • Sando brings up the large return package a team could get by taking on Watsonโ€™s salary, and some league executives name the Panthers and Patriots as teams who might do it.
  • Another executive talked about what the trade could look like: โ€œThe conversation starts with multiple 1โ€™s, maybe less if Cleveland wants to pay salary.โ€ 
  • Sando spoke with another executive who doesnโ€™t believe a trade will happen: โ€œMy point is, as uncomfortable as it may be, simply keeping Watson on the roster in 2025 is an option.โ€ 
  • Finally, Sando mentions the league would have to approve of this deal because they donโ€™t usually like teams trading for cap space.
  • NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is still reviewing Watsonโ€™s latest sexual misconduct case, which was recently resolved, per Rob Maadi. 

Ravens

  • Ravens HC John Harbaugh spoke on how happy DE Yannick Ngakoue is in Baltimore: โ€œHe played tremendously well, which is not a surprise because we saw him practice that well. Big addition to our team with the way heโ€™s rolling.โ€ (Jeff Zrebiec)
  • According to Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic, the Ravens were bound to elevate Ngakoue because he only had one practice squad elevation left and other teams were likely going to increase interest in him.

Steelers

  • Steelers HC Mike Tomlin said C Ryan McCollum will start Week 7 with Zach Frazier (ankle) out, via Brooke Pryor.
  • As for Russell Wilson, Tomlin said Wilson โ€œproved his health last weekโ€ and confirmed he is โ€œin considerationโ€ to start Week 7 against the Jets, via Tom Pelissero.
  • When asked why they would start Wilson with Justin Fields leading them to a 4-2 start, Tomlin responded: โ€œYou better have your foot on the gas at all times.โ€ 
  • Tomlin said Fields has been โ€œreally goodโ€ but they are seeking to be a โ€œgreatโ€ team: โ€œJustin has been really good, weโ€™ve been really good at times not to be confused as great. This is a competitive league, weโ€™re trying to position ourselves to be that team.โ€ (Jenna Harner)
  • Tomlin acknowledges that Fieldsโ€™ running ability is an โ€œx-factor,โ€ while Wilson doesnโ€™t possess the same mobility, per Pryor.
  • Tomlin said they will decide on their starting quarterback โ€œcloser to game time.โ€ (Pryor)
  • Tomlin added there is a โ€œscenarioโ€ where Pittsburgh plays both Wilson and Fields: โ€œWeโ€™ll let both guys work and make a decision from there.โ€ (Albert Breer)

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