AFC Notes: Trade Buzz, Zaโ€™Darius Smith, Marcus Williams, Browns, Ravens, Steelers

Browns

  • Dan Graziano of ESPN thinks Browns OLB Zaโ€™Darius Smith is a likely player to get traded over the next week given heโ€™s unlikely to be in Clevelandโ€™s long-term plans.
  • ESPNโ€™s Jeremy Fowler adds a Day 3 draft pick will likely be enough to get a deal done for Smith. 
  • Smith was absent from Wednesdayโ€™s practice amidst trade rumors around him. However, Daniel Oyefusi notes Smith not participating was injury-related. 
  • Fowler also thinks the Browns trading CB Greg Newsome II to the Buccaneers in exchange for a fifth-round pick is a deal that makes sense for both parties. 
  • Fowler, citing sources around the league, writes Cleveland appears โ€œopen for business with several playersโ€ and they should draw interest for Newsome.
  • Browns HC Kevin Stefanski announced LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah has been released from the hospital after his neck injury. (Chris Easterling)
  • Stefanski said Wednesday theyโ€™ve ruled out Owusu-Koramoah from Week 9, via Tony Grossi.
  • Stefanski also mentioned CB Denzel Ward remains in concussion protocol. (Easterling)
  • He spoke on Wardโ€™s concussion history: โ€œI really lean on the medical team. I support Denzel and I know heโ€™s getting great care.โ€ (Zac Jackson)
  • On QB Jameis Winstonโ€˜s first start of the year: โ€œJameis Winston is the starter. Thought he did nice job with progressions, saw it clearly.โ€ (Scott Petrak)
  • Although Stefanski said they plan for Winston to start the rest of the season, he noted todayโ€™s NFL carries a โ€œday-to-dayโ€ approach at quarterback, per Scott Petrak.

Ravens

  • Ravens HC John Harbaugh on why S Marcus Williams didnโ€™t play: โ€œThereโ€™s a lot of things going on all the time and a lot of it is our business. Thereโ€™s some things we choose to keep to ourselves. Thatโ€™s going to be one of them.โ€ (Jeff Zrebiec)
  • Harbaugh also said first-round CB Nate Wiggins is fighting an illness: โ€œI donโ€™t think Iโ€™m allowed to disclose it, but heโ€™s doing OK. Hopefully, heโ€™ll be at practice this week.โ€ (Zrebiec)
  • The Ravens are sending a 2025 fifth-round pick to Carolina for WR Diontae Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick, Jeff Zrebiec of The Athletic.
  • Zrebiec adds Baltimore owes him about $625k for the rest of the year after the Panthers paid some of his salary.
  • Harbaugh said Johnson will be considered for return duties in Week 9 and worked on punt returns in Wednesdayโ€™s practice. (Jeff Zrebiec
  • Harbaugh said QB Lamar Jackson was given a rest day on Wednesday: โ€œHeโ€™s been playing great. We have a lot of football in front of us.โ€ (Ravens official site)
  • As for DT Michael Pierceโ€˜s calf injury, Harbaugh confirmed itโ€™s not considered to be season-ending. (Zrebiec)

Steelers

The Steelers won their second-straight game with QB Russell Wilson starting with Wilsonโ€™s signature moon ball on full display. Pittsburgh OC Arthur Smith explained the art of Wilsonโ€™s deep ball and their desire to utilize it going forward.

โ€œThatโ€™s been Russโ€™ strong suit,โ€ Smith said, via ESPNโ€™s Brooke Pryor. โ€œHeโ€™ll be the first to tell you, weโ€™re greedy, we want more. Historically, thatโ€™s whatโ€™s made him the player he is. Heโ€™s got a unique spatial awareness and touch.

โ€œA lot of those things, you can drill those things, but some guys have a great feel for it. Putting it out in front, knowing who youโ€™re throwing to, how much you need to lead โ€™em, dropping things in there. I would credit that to really his whole athletic background.โ€

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