Around the AFC North: Bengals Lose Ja'Marr…

Week 4 was injury plagued for the Ravens, and for the entire AFC North.

Here’s a roundup of injury woes for Baltimore’s division rivals:

Cincinnati Bengals: Ja’Marr Chase, Tee Higgins Leave During Loss to Jaguars

Bengals top receivers Ja’Marr Chase (concussion) and Tee Higgins (abductor) were injured during a 22-17 loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars Sunday, leaving their timetable to return uncertain.

Chase entered the concussion protocol, while Head Coach Zac Taylor did not have an immediate update on Higgins after he left the game on Cincinnati’s final drive.

The Bengals’ second straight defeat left them severely shorthanded at wide receiver. Andrei Iosivas is on injured reserve after having thumb surgery, and Colbie Young (knee) missed Sunday’s game.

Cincinnati signed Mitchell Tinsley last week, and he had three catches for 49 yards against Jacksonville. However, if Chase and Higgins can’t play against the Miami Dolphins in Week 5, the Bengals may explore signing more reinforcements.

The Bengals leaned on Higgins (11 catches, 157 yards) after Chase was injured in the first half, but they were stopped on a potential game-winning drive on their final possession. On fourth down, running back Chase Brown was tackled after catching a pass on Jacksonville’s 12-yard line, one yard short of a first down that would have kept the drive alive.

Cincinnati had little success running the ball (23 yards on 15 carries) against Jacksonville, and Joe Burrow threw for 428 yards but also tossed two costly interceptions.

The Bengals (2-2) have missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons but entered this season with high expectations after being aggressive in free agency to fortify their defense. After losing to Jacksonville, Taylor’s voice was heard through the wall that separates the media room from the locker room, according to Ben Baby of ESPN.com.

Taylor said he was offering encouragement during his postgame speech, and Burrow said the Bengals wouldn’t panic.

“We had our opportunities in the last two weeks, but this isn’t Armageddon or anything,” Burrow said. “We’re very confident. We’re 2-2, but nobody wins a championship after Week 4.”

Cleveland Browns: Todd Monken Has Quickly Won Over Fans, Players

The Browns (3-1) are riding a three-game winning streak, and Head Coach Todd Monken is riding the wave.

There were skeptics when the Browns rewarded the 60-year-old Monken with his first opportunity to be a NFL head coach. However, Monken’s straightforward, unique personality has resonated with players and fans.

The resurgence of quarterback Deshaun Watson has been a huge story in Cleveland, and he has responded to Monken in his role as head coach and offensive play caller.

After the Browns defeated the Steelers on Thursday, the locker room erupted with joy when Monken announced that players would be off until Tuesday. Cleveland will visit the New York Jets (1-3) in Week 5 with a chance to start 4-1 for the first time since 2020.

Pittsburgh Steelers: Defensive Starters Derrick Harmon, Jamel Dean to Miss Time

As of Monday morning, the Steelers (2-2) had not announced if they will place defensive tackle Derrick Harmon on the injured reserve list. While Harmon will miss time, Pittsburgh was thankful Harmon’s injury was not long term, according to Rapoport.

Starting cornerback Jamel Dean suffered an ankle injury against Cleveland and is also expected to miss time.

Emotions ran high between Head Coach Mike McCarthy and quarterback Aaron Rodgers during the Steelers’ loss in Cleveland. McCarthy apologized after he was caught by television cameras using a profanity directed toward Rodgers, who was yelling at sideline for a play to be sent in.

“Communication sometimes is not the best choice of words, but everybody’s competing on the field,” McCarthy said via Brooke Pryor of ESPN. com.

“I think what’s said on the field, the way I grew up in this game, usually stays on the field. That’s not the case today. I understand that. But any negative communication on my part, I wish I wouldn’t use those words.”

The Steelers will host the Indianapolis Colts (2-2) in Week 5.

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