CINCINNATI (AP) — The first month shaped up as the Bengals‘ most daunting Nick Vigil Jersey , with three road games in the first four. The offense and defense were getting accustomed to new systems. And then the injuries began.Running back Joe Mixon tore knee cartilage. Center Billy Price tore a foot ligament. Linebacker Preston Brown sprained an ankle. Linebacker Vontaze Burfict was suspended all month for another NFL policy violation.Cincinnati (3-1) came through it successfully with a handful of big plays and a resurgent Andy Dalton . Now the Bengals are getting some of those important players back as they settle into a more cushy part of the schedule — four home games in the next five, starting with the Miami Dolphins (3-1) on Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium.Things are looking up in Cincinnati, off to its best start since it won the AFC North in 2015.“It’s a new team, a new energy around here,” cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick said.The Dolphins are trying to regroup from their first loss, a 38-7 drubbing by the Patriots that highlighted their flaws. Both lines got pushed around , and injuries forced adjustments that didn’t turn out so well.“It was a humbling experience,” defensive tackle Davon Godchaux said.The Bengals want to keep their momentum going during home games against the Dolphins and against the rival Pittsburgh Steelers the following week. The Dolphins need to pull out of their one-week funk and not allow it to turn into a downward trend.Some things to watch Sunday at Paul Brown Stadium:DALTON’S RESURGENCE: The Bengals’ eighth-year quarterback has been a key to their turnaround, getting off to his best start since 2015 in a redesigned offense. He’s thrown 11 touchdown passes, his best total for an opening four-game stretch.During a 37-36 win at Atlanta on Sunday, he had a perfect passer rating of 158.3 in the first half, when he missed on only two passes. He led a winning 16-play drive, culminating in a touchdown pass to A.J. Green with 7 seconds left.“We have to keep playing the way we have been and keep the confidence level high, because we’ve shown we can do it,” Dalton said. “We just have to keep it going.”HUMBLE PIE?Godchaux hinted that the Dolphins lost a little motivation by winning their first three games, so the drubbing by the Patriots could provide a correction. The Dolphins lead the AFC East despite ranking in the bottom half of the league in many offensive and defensive categories.“Believe it or not, we needed that loss to get back on track,” Godchaux said. “As a team we just needed that. We were 3-0. We got a wakeup call.”ON THE LINEThe Dolphins’ lines have been depleted and got pushed around against the Patriots, who rushed for 175 yards while the Dolphins were held to 172 total yards.Center Daniel Kilgore suffered a season-ending triceps injury, and defensive tackle Jordan Phillips was released after another poor game punctuated by a sideline outburst. Veteran Travis Swanson replaces Kilgore. The Dolphins earlier lost guard Josh Sitton with a season-ending shoulder injury.“We just got crushed,” coach Adam Gase said.NOT MOVING THE CHAINSThe Dolphins have converted 31 percent of their third downs Andy Dalton Jersey , which ranks third-worst in the NFL. They were 3 for 11 against New England and had the ball for less than 24 minutes.“We were bad on third, we were bad on second, and we were bad on first,” quarterback Ryan Tannehill said. “It’s all tied together. When you’re in third-and-long situations, which we were, you’re not going to be in good situations. It really comes down to first and second down, being efficient and keeping it third-and-manageable.”Tannehill has often been knocked for his play on third down. This year his quarterback rating is 72.8 in those situations, compared with 106.1 overall.LETTING THEM MOVE THE CHAINSThe Dolphins will be going against a defense that’s last in the league by far on third down, allowing opponents to convert 57 percent of the time. It’s the biggest problem with a defense that’s ranked 29th overall and has allowed the 10th-most points in the league.Cincinnati hopes that getting Burfict back from his four-game suspension for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancers will help fix the problems.“I feel like he balances everything out,” Kirkpatrick said. Since the NFL adopted its latest overtime rules in 2012, there have been just five ties across the league. I was in the locker room for one — the October 2014 tie between the Panthers and Bengals — and no one feels great about them. Seemingly after every tie comes two things: a quote that the outcome felt like kissing one’s sister, and one young player on the team who didn’t know ties in the NFL were possible.There may be more sister-smooching and oblivious rookies in the near future. League owners passed a rule Tuesday to shave five minutes off of the NFL’s regular-season overtime, which has consisted of 15 minutes of sudden-death play since the league added an extra period in 1974. Since the 2012 season there have been 83 overtime games, 22 of which have lasted more than 10 minutes. That works out to 26.5% of the past five seasons’ overtime games that, theoretically, would have been affected by Tuesday’s rule change.I say theoretically because it would be logically irresponsible to assume that nothing would change if both teams knew they had 10 minutes rather than 15 minutes. Where a team may run it on second-and-4 from midfield with 5:06 left to play in OT, it certainly would attempt a Hail Mary in that same position with six seconds remaining. *(You’ll see three examples of this in the 2015 season section below.)*Article continues below ...I took that into account as much as possible when reviewing every overtime game since 2012 in an effort to determine how many of those 22 that stretched beyond 10 minutes would have affected that season’s playoff picture. This exercise showed that several teams would have had their postseason fates altered had this rule change come along within the past five years — new division winners, a reshuffling of seeds and even a reigning Super Bowl champ that missed the playoffs the next season actually getting in.2012 seasonTotal regular season overtimes: 22Overtime periods lasting more than 10 minutes: fiveWhat would have changed: AFC playoff seedingThis season’s two Super Bowl teams each would have an extra tie on their record if play had stopped after just 10 extra minutes. Both of the 49ers’ meetings with the Rams went deep into overtime, and San Francisco went 1-0-1 in those games. A 10-4-2 49ers team still would have won the NFC West over the 11-5 Seahawks thanks to the divisional record tiebreaker, and the NFC playoff picture would remain unchanged. But things get tricky in the AFC.The Ravens’ late-November win against over the Chargers needed a game-winning field goal with 1:12 left in OT. If that game had ended in a tie and nothing else in the season had changed, Baltimore finishes 9-5-1 rather than 10-6. The real Ravens edged the Bengals for the AFC North crown on the strength of a tiebreaker A.J. Green Jersey , but the alternate reality Ravens would have lost the division to Cincinnati and changed the complexion of the AFC playoffs.In this world, the Ravens would have been the No. 6 seed, forced to go on the road to face the Texans (and backup T.J. Yates) to start their Super Bowl run, while the Bengals would have been the No. 4 seed hosting rookie Andrew Luck and the Colts in the first round.2013 seasonTotal regular season overtimes: 16Overtime periods lasting more than 10 minutes: fiveWhat would have changed: NothingOddly enough, the new hypothetical ties added to this season don’t have as much bearing on playoff seeding as they would in the years before or after, though they could have had a big impact on that year’s draft order.There’s just one outcome I can find in 2013 that <em>might </em>have changed things slightly, and that was the Vikings’ Week 13 win over the Bears on a game-winning Blair Walsh field goal with 1:47 left in overtime. Going into a Week 17 matchup with the 7-7-1 Packers, the Bears would have been 8-6-1 rather than 8-7. <noscript></noscript>TNS via Getty Images/MCT The Packers won that game and the NFC North thanks to some late heroics by Aaron Rodgers, but Week 17 would have been win-or-go-home regardless of Week 13’s outcome. But perhaps that slight change in record affects the psychology of both teams enough to influence the outcome. Probably not.2014 seasonTotal regular season overtimes: 11Overtime periods lasting more than 10 minutes: oneWhat would have changed: NFC South championThe season-changing game was the one I previously mentioned in Cincinnati. The Bengals and Panthers played to a 37-37 tie after Mike Nugent’s 36-yard field goal went wide right as time expired. The Panthers went on to win the NFC South with a pitiful 7-8-1 record.But consider the situation under the new rule change: The Nugent field goal that put the Bengals up 37-34 with 8:40 left in overtime would have given Cincinnati the lead with 3:40 left instead. At the five-minute mark, the Panthers had the ball at the Cincinnati 44, on their way to eventually kicking the tying field goal with 2:24 on the clock. Of course, with the seconds ticking away Carolina would have played differently, but clearly its chances of tying the game decrease with less time to run its offense.Four weeks later, the Saints went to overtime with the 49ers. After both teams failed to get anything out of their first possession of the extra session, New Orleans fielded a punt at its 9-yard line with 7:43 to play. Before the Saints could get past their own 20, Drew Brees took sacks on consecutive plays and was stripped on the latter, which gave the 49ers a chip-shot field goal to win the game with 5:18 left.In this new reality, maybe the Saints aren’t as aggressive so deep in their own territory, give more protection to Brees with time winding down and play with a tie in mind. That result gets New Orleans into the playoffs with a 7-8-1 record over the Panthers, who finish 7-9 after their tie becomes a loss.2015 seasonTotal regular season overtimes: 21Overtime periods lasting more than 10 minutes: fiveWhat would have changed: Less than you’d think at first glanceThere would be no changes to this year’s playoff picture under the new rule, but three games stand out as examples of how one of the stats driving this thought experiment can be misleading.Above Geno Atkins Jersey , I noted that 26.5% of games in the past five years would have been affected by a 10-minute overtime, but I didn’t mean that the outcomes necessarily would be different.The Colts beat the Jaguars on a 27-yard field goal with 4:47 left in overtime, but it would have been a 25-yard try with 5:23 remaining coming out of an Indianapolis timeout. The Bengals hit a 42-yard field goal with 3:42 left to beat the Seahawks, but it would have been a 46-yard try with 5:08 remaining after their timeout. And the Broncos’ 34-yard field goal to beat the Browns came with 4:57 remaining on the clock — off by just three seconds.Three of the five games that took more than 10 minutes off the overtime clock likely would have ended the same way under the new rule and avoided additional ties.2016 season Total regular season overtimes: 13Overtime periods lasting more than 10 minutes: sixWhat would have changed: Two wild-card teamsDenver and Tampa Bay narrowly missed out on the playoffs in 2016, but this rule change gives the Broncos a chance to defend their title and gives the Bucs their first taste of the postseason since ’07.In Week 12, Denver took Kansas City to overtime, where the Chiefs won on a Cairo Santos field goal as time expired. But Denver had scored on the first drive of the extra period with a field goal, and Kansas City followed it up with a field goal to match with 4:23 left in the game. The Chiefs were in field-goal range at the five-minute mark, so let’s assume Santos makes that game-tying kick from a yard farther out and the game ends there in a draw. The Broncos would have finished the season 9-6-1 rather than 9-7.<noscript></noscript>In Week 16 against the Bills, the Dolphins won in the final minute of overtime with a field goal. But at the five-minute mark, both teams had come up empty on one possession and the Bills were backed up in their own territory. It’s fair to project this one as a tie. That would have left Miami with the same 9-6-1 record as the Broncos. The two didn’t play head-to-head and would have had identical 6-5-1 conference records. The next tiebreaker — record against common opponents — would have swung the wild-card spot in favor of the Broncos (Denver went 2-3 against New England, Cincinnati, Tennessee and San Diego, while Miami was 1-4).In the NFC, a Week 8 game between the Bucs and Raiders could have changed the fortunes of the Lions. With five minutes left in overtime, Oakland sent its punt team onto the field after its second overtime possession failed. The Raiders eventually won on a 41-yard touchdown pass with less than two minutes left, but a tie here would have left the Bucs with a 9-6-1 record at year’s end, edging 9-7 Detroit for the sixth seed in the NFC and earning a trip to Seattle just a few weeks after they had knocked off the Seahawks at home.<em>This article originally appeared on</em> 5<button class="view-gallery">View Gallery</button> Gallery:4 rule changes the NFL is making to rosters, celebrations, and overtime in 2017Logan Bowles | USA TODAY Sports

Given that the Rams are 9-1 and favored to beat the 9-1 Chiefs on Monday night in a matchup of the two teams with the best records in the league Darrell Henderson Los Angeles Rams Jerseys , it’s easy to overlook the fact that the Rams’ defense has not been particularly good this year.The Rams are allowing opposing runners to average 5.2 yards a carry, worst in the NFL. And the improvements the Rams made in the secondary during the offseason have turned out not to be improvements at all, with cornerback Marcus Peters struggling all season and cornerback Aqib Talib on injured reserve.But there is one thing the Rams are doing well: Pressuring opposing passers.According to Chris Trapasso of the Buffalo News, using data compiled by Pro Football Focus, the Rams are getting pressure on 41.6 percent of the passes they face this season Los Angeles Rams Jerseys 2019 , the best in the NFL. That doesn’t necessarily mean the Rams are getting a lot of sacks — they’re tied for 10th in the league with 26 sacks — but they are consistently hurrying opposing quarterbacks.And that underscores just how disappointing the secondary has been. If the defensive front is hurrying the opposing quarterback, and the opposing quarterback is completing passes anyway, that doesn’t reflect well on the secondary.Getting to Patrick Mahomes on Monday night will be important, but the rest of the defense has to do its job as well. Given the way both teams’ offenses and defenses have played this season, expect a shootout. Two Super Bowl-winning quarterbacks were knocked out of their respective games on Sunday.Ben Roethlisberger left Pittsburgh’s 28-26 loss to Seattle with an unspecified right elbow injury late in the first half.The 37-year-old Roethlisberger grimaced after throwing a pair of passes on a drive late in the second quarter. Though he was under duress several times during the first half Darrell Henderson black jersey , he didn’t appear to be touched on the plays that left him clutching the elbow.Tight end Vance McDonald said the starting offense was told Roethlisberger was hurt just before heading out for the second half.Roethlisberger was 8 of 15 for 75 yards against Seattle before exiting. He spent a portion of the second half talking to backup Mason Rudolph and offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner, providing insight and guidance.Also in the game, inside linebacker Vince Williams (hamstring), running back James Conner (knee) and linebacker Anthony Chickillo (plantar fasciitis) all left with injuries.The Saints‘ Drew Brees was forced out of his NFC title game rematch against the Rams late in the first quarter.His throwing hand collided with Aaron Donald’s outstretched hand while he threw an incompletion on the Saints’ second drive, and the NFL’s career leader in yards passing spent the afternoon on the Coliseum sideline with his thumb heavily wrapped.Along with Brees Darrell Henderson Jersey Mens , the Saints lost left guard Andrus Peat to an ankle injury in the second half. Linebacker A.J. Klein also went to the locker room in the second half, too.And the Rams lost two offensive starters: right guard Austin Blythe injured his ankle in the first half, and tight end Tyler Higbee had a chest injury early in the second half.The Patriots are off to a dominating 2-0 start after having outscored the Steelers and Dolphins by a combined 76-3. However, their battered offensive line was dealt another blow when left tackle Isaiah Wynn left in the first half with a foot injury. Marshall Newhouse replaced him. The Patriots also are without center David Andrews because of blood clots and right tackle Marcus Cannon missed the game with a shoulder injury.San Francisco left tackle Joe Staley broke the fibula in his left leg in the third quarter of his team’s 41-17 rout of Cincinnati. The 49ers think he could return in less than eight weeks.“I really think this team is special,” Staley said. “I’m going to do everything in my power to get back and help this team down the stretch.”Bengals backup offensive lineman Andre Smith went out with a groin injury in the second quarter. Rookie left guard Michael Jordan suffered a knee injury and was carted off in the second half. Bengals coach Zac Taylor had no updated information about his condition. Defensive end Carl Lawson hurt his right hamstring in the second half.In other games:Chiefs left tackle Eric Fisher left on the opening drive against Oakland after reinjuring his groin that he hurt in practice on Friday. Raiders returner Dwayne Harris injured his left ankle covering a punt in the second quarter and didn’t return.Giants wide receiver Cody Latimer left the game against Buffalo early in the fourth quarter with a concussion.The Cowboys lost defensive end Antwaun Woods in the second quarter against Washington with a left knee injury. Washington safety Montae Nicholson left briefly with a foot injury that appeared to bother him even after he returned Darrell Henderson Jersey Cheap , and tight end Vernon Davis missed a handful of plays with an eye injury.Packers safety Raven Greene was carted off the field with an ankle injury following the first play of the second half against Minnesota. He did not return.Chargers safety Adrian Phillips left early in the fourth quarter against Detroit with a forearm injury.Colts cornerback Pierre Desir hurt a knee in the third quarter at the end of a 25-yard catch by Titans receiver Corey Davis. He did not return.Ravens safety Brynden Trawick hurt his left arm while on the punt return team against Arizona.

Many wide receivers have made their way through New England during the years that Tom Brady has been the team’s quarterback and the ones that have stuck around a while have been the ones that have won Brady’s trust.In order to get some insight into what 2019 first-rounder N'Keal Harry has to do to win that trust Color Rush Kendarius Webster Jersey , Nick Underhill of TheAthletic.com spoke to three wideouts who didn’t have long stays with the Patriots. Chad Jackson played 14 games for the team after being taken in the second round of the 2006 draft, P.K. Sam was waived after playing two games as a 2004 fifth-rounder and Chad Johnson played his final NFL games with the team in 2011.Jackson and Sam both said that learning the offense is tough for players coming out of college and the team’s limited success with homegrown wideouts lends support to that view. Johnson was more experienced, but felt he “didn’t really have time to come in and build that currency” with Brady.Jackson and Sam also noted that Brady is looking for “perfection” and both players dealt with injuries that hindered their ability to get fully on the same page with the quarterback. Sam offered advice for Harry about how to avoid a similar fate.“You keep your mouth shut, do what you’re asked to do and just understand it’s a new journey,” Sam said. “You go from a superstar in your college to back on the bottom, which he won’t because he was a high draft pick, but still. He has to learn the ropes. Just keep your mouth shut Youth Kendarius Webster Jersey , keep your body healthy, and everything will work out.”It’s too soon to know if that’s what will happen, but it would certainly be a plus for the Patriots if Harry is part of the group that makes it in New England. The loss of Matthew Stafford to injury continues to take a toll on the Detroit Lions, and the losses on the field keep adding up.Backup quarterback Jeff Driskel threw three interceptions in the latest defeat, 19-16 to the Washington Redskins on Sunday, and embattled coach Matt Patricia continues to face questions about his job status with the season slipping away. Detroit (3-7-1) has lost four in a row and seven of eight.“He's our head coach, and he's the guy we’re really behind Womens Kendarius Webster Jersey ,” right guard Graham Glasgow said of Patricia. “We just need to execute, and I think at the end of the day that comes down to everybody on the team: coaches, players. I don't think that gets pinned on one person in particular.”Driskel is filling in for Stafford, who has missed three consecutive games with back and hip injuries. Jim Caldwell was fired after the Lions went 9-7 in 2017, and they’re 9-17-1 since Patricia was picked to replace him.“I definitely think the team is fighting,” Patricia said.That fight isn’t translating into wins. The Lions led the lowly Redskins 16-13 in the fourth quarter but couldn’t put the game away. Driskel was intercepted by Washington’s Quinton Dunbar in the final minute, a play that put the Redskins in position to drive for the go-ahead field goal.Driskel Authentic Kendarius Webster Jersey , who was 20 of 33 for 207 yards, took responsibility for the turnovers. Patricia might take the fall for those and other blunders.“We all saw what the mistakes are,” Patricia said. “We all saw them out there. We have to do a better job of coaching it and executing it.”The Lions are 0-3 since Stafford was sidelined, yet things started going off the rails before that. Detroit’s defense has struggled and wasn’t good enough Sunday to send the game into overtime.Asked about taking over the defensive play calling, Patricia became, well, defensive Kendarius Webster Jersey Boys , and refused to go into details. He spent six seasons as Bill Belichick’s defensive coordinator with the New England Patriots before getting his first head NFL job.Glasgow said reporters “can speculate” about how players respond to concerns about Patricia’s job security. He was more direct when asked if this was the toughest loss of a tough season.“Right now it definitely feels that way,” he said. “Yeah, this one doesn't feel good.”

OAKLAND Antonio Brown Jersey White , Calif. (AP) — The Raiders have gotten final approval for their lease to remain in Oakland for at least one more season.The Oakland City Council voted Thursday to approve the lease for 2019 with an option for 2020. The Alameda Board of Supervisors had voted earlier in the week in favor of the lease that had been formally approved by the Coliseum Authority last week.The Raiders will pay $7.5 million in rent for the Coliseum and the practice facility in Alameda in 2019 and have a $10.5 million option for 2020 in case their new $1.8 billion, 65,000-seat stadium in Las Vegas isn’t ready by then.This season likely will be the Raiders’ final season in Oakland after moving back from Los Angeles in 1995. The Raiders began playing at the Coliseum in 1966 and were there through the 1981 season before going to Southern California.The team plans to start the 2020 season at the 65,000-seat stadium being built west of the Las Vegas Strip. Taxpayers are contributing $750 million to the project.The partially tax-funded stadium that will become the home of the Raiders in Las Vegas has recently faced delays with the delivery of steel components. The Las Vegas Review-Journal reports substantial completion of the venue has been pushed back by less than a week to Aug. 4, 2020. The facility would host its first event soon after.In addition to the delivery issues, a report by an independent construction monitor hired by the stadium’s oversight board released Thursday says site visits revealed that “steel components that should have been completed have not yet been erected or detailed.” I think it’s fair to say Mike Mayock is extremely impressionable when it comes to championship games and the players in them. His first free agency, the instant he could get on the phone to reel in..."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Raiders Draft 2019College football National Championship had strong influence on Mike Mayock and Raiders top four picksNew,83commentsPDTShareTweetShareShareCollege football National Championship had strong influence on Mike Mayock and Raiders top four picksMark Rebilas-USA TODAY SportsI think it’s fair to say Mike Mayock is extremely impressionable when it comes to championship games and the players in them. His first free agency, the instant he could get on the phone to reel in a free agent, he was on the phone offering record money for Patriots’ left tackle Trent Brown. He has taken that same approach in the draft.He had four picks to work with in the top 40 and three of those four picks were players from the College Football National Championship game — Fourth overall pick Clelin Ferrel, 24th overall pick Josh Jacobs, and 40th overall pick Trayvon Mullen.“I don’t want to put too much emphasis on that game, because obviously you scout the whole season and watch every snap with guys like this,” Mayock said after day two, “but I came away from that game... It’s really funny because it feels like yesterday. And I was just brand new here (as Raiders GM) and being on the field before the game was just like ‘Wow’. I said to somebody ‘I’d take five of these guys and go home right now,’ in all honesty. And here we are (laughs) and we got three of them. So, it’s exciting, it really is.”Clelin Ferrell was the leader of the National Champion Clemson defense, so that obviously raised his stock to the point where the Raiders took him at fourth overall, despite most judgments being that was higher than he should have gone.Most thought Mayock’s interest in Josh Jacobs as a first round pick may have come into focus with the news that Marshawn Lynch was not coming back. But he said he knew he wanted Jacobs since — you guessed it — the National Championship game. “Right after I took the job I went to the National Championship game because it was right over at the 49ers stadium, and it was obviously Clemson and Alabama, and . . . the guy from Alabama that blew me away was Jacobs and I came back and I watched the film the next day. I cut up six plays out of the film, walked into his (Coach Gruden’s) office and said, ‘Jon, this could be one of our picks right here,’ and I showed him six plays and he was like ‘Oh shit!’, so that’s how long he has been on our radar and that’s the impression he made on me that night.”He didn’t say specifically what the six plays were that he cut up, but Jacobs shared generally what Mayock told him impressed him most.“He told me that [the National Championship game] when he knew we were potentially somebody that he would be looking at,” said Jacobs. “He was just talking about how in the game when I was catching passes and not afraid to block people and things like that, so I think that’s the majority of the things he was talking about.”As far as his receiving in the game, Jacobs had one catch for 16 yards. His blocking, however, was highlighted by this play which was undoubtedly what Mayock had in his mind when his eyes lit up talking about Jacobs’s play in the game.“Oh, shit!” is right. That edge rusher whose soul Jacobs stole was Austin Bryant. Something tells me Bryant won’t be among those high on Mayock’s board.After filling the need at safety with the selection of Mississippi State’s Johnathan Abram, the Raiders went into day two with a couple players in mind — Trayvon Mullen and one other player. When they got to pick 35, both players were still there, so they traded down to 38. Both players were there again, so they traded down to 40 and nabbed Mullen.Just like his Clemson teammate Bo Jackson Jersey White , this was higher than Mullen was supposed to go according to most draft analyst’s judgment. But, you see, Mullen put on a stellar performance including an interception, sack, forced fumble, and six tackles to win Defensive MVP of the National Championship game. Mullen used that performance to make his decision to leave school early and enter the draft.“I went out there and showed the world the elite player that I am, how confident I am, how strong and physical I am and just showing my capability and the type of good athlete I am,” said Mullen. “I believe that game played a big role. I was really excited after that game. It motivated me a lot to even make my decision to coming out early.”That considerably raised his stock in Mayock’s eyes. He was at least smart enough to realize he could trade down a couple times and pick up some low round picks before making the pick.It leaves you to wonder who else from that National Championship could be squarely on his radar for their picks in the 4th thru 7th rounds. They currently have two picks at the top of the 4th round (106, 109), a pick in the 5th round (158) and a pick in the 7th round (218).Here are the top Clemson and Alabama prospects still on the board:Christian Miller, ED, Alabama Mack Wilson, LB, Alabama Deionte Thompson, S, Alabama Tre Lamar, LB, Clemson Isaiah Buggs, DI, Alabama Austin Bryant, DE, Clemson Albert Huggins, DI, Clemson Ross Pierschbacher, C, Alabama Saivion Smith, CB, Alabama Mark Fields, CB, Clemson Hunter Renfrow, WR, Clemson Mitch Hyatt, G, Clemson Kendall Joseph, LB, ClemsonFollow @LeviDamien

Last week Womens Taylor Decker Jersey , the Detroit Lions jumped into the top 10 in terms of 2020 NFL Draft order, but after their loss to Washington on Sunday, it may be time to start considering a top-five pick as a real possibility. After Week 12’s results (Ravens vs. Rams pending, but irrelevant to this discussion), the Lions are currently holding onto the seventh overall pick in next year’s draft. Here’s a look at the draft order as it currently stands.(Tiebreakers are decided by strength of schedule for the full 16-game schedule. Numbers are based on Tankathon’s results).Bengals: 0-11Giants: 2-9Dolphins: 2-9Washington: 2-9Broncos: 3-8Falcons: 3-8Lions: 3-7-1Cardinals: 3-7-1Jaguars: 4-7Jets: 4-7Chargers: 4-7Buccaneers: 4-7As you can see, the Lions are just a half-game behind the Broncos and Falcons. Seeing as the Lions play the Broncos later in the year Taylor Decker Jersey White , and the Falcons have won two of their last three, Detroit could realistically jump both teams into the top five.Unfortunately for the Lions, Week 12 wasn’t great for their chances to jump much higher than that. Every single team ahead of them in the draft order lost this week—expect for Washington. Oddly, the seventh overall pick hasn’t been a great spot for many teams as of late. Check out the last 10 players picked seventh overall:2019: LB Josh Allen2018: QB Josh Allen2017: WR Mike Williams2016: OT Ronnie Stanley2015: WR Kevin White2014: WR Mike Evans2013: G Jonathan Cooper 2012: S Mark Barron2011: LB Aldon Smith2010: CB Joe HadenWide receiver is a fairly popular pick at this point and a realistic option for the Lions. Though they have Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones Jr. on board for at least one more year each, it’s unclear if Detroit will want to keep both around beyond that. The Detroit Lions lost in brutal fashion. Two phantom hands to the face calls on defensive end Trey Flowers allowed the Green Bay Packers to drive down the field and erase a late nine-point lead and win 23-22. A missed defensive pass interference call late also cost Detroit the opportunity to pad their lead a bit. While the refereeing is the big story here—and deservedly so—we are gonna work around that here, and focus on some other takeaways from the teams devastating loss:The offense must be able to convert opportunitiesThe Lions defense is good. They have generated 11 turnovers this year and have made big defensive stops to put the offense in position to score. Detroit needs the offense to start taking advantage of opportunities. The Lions kicked five field goals en route to a one-point loss Quandre Diggs Jersey White , and had they converted just one more chance in the red zone, then their entire season outlook may be different at the moment. After a flea flicker busted open the Packers defense on the opening play of the game, they failed to get anything more than a field goal. This became a running theme throughout the game. Detroit’s offense would string together a few good plays to get down field, then sputter out once they got deep in Green Bay territory. While one could argue that they did not get a fair shake on Monday, the game plays out much differently if the Lions’ offense did better on shorter fields.The run game is deadFor the fourth time in five games, running back Kerryon Johnson finished short of the four yard per carry mark. He averaged 2.6 yards on his 13 carries http://www.lionslockerroom.com/authentic-quandre-diggs-jersey , and his touchdown was a punch-in from a few feet out. Johnson is now averaging 3.3 yards per carry in 2019, and the run game that is usually the staple of Darrell Bevell’s offense is missing. First down runs are not going anywhere, putting the team behind the chains. The team has tried to see if J.D. McKissic could do anything to help, but his three carries of Monday night only earned him 4 yards.The problem lies up front. The offensive line has failed to create any room for the guys in the backfield and has made Detroit’s offense one dimensional again. While putting the ball in Stafford’s hands more often does seem great, the team very clearly wants to run a possession offense and need the run game to step up if they are going to do so. No speed or separationAnother issues that became apparent for this team was at wide receiver. The flea flicker shot to Kenny Golladay clearly caught the defense off guard and the receiver easily got behind the defense. Golladay was not fast enough to house the run, though Austin Bryant Jersey 2019 , and he ended up being chased down. The drive ended in a field goal.This lack of speed in the receivers room was a sticking point on here last offseason. While you cannot blame Golladay or fellow starting receiver Marvin Jones Jr. for their lack of speed, Detroit added both knowing they were more physical receivers who attack at the point of the catch. Detroit not having a reliable faster receiver for deep shots like that hurts the team.Neither Golladay nor Jones Jr., were able to get regular separation, either. This forces Stafford to either take ill-advised throws into tight windows or just check it down. Not being able to win routes in short space really hurts, especially with pass rushers like Preston Smith and Za’Darius Smith on the other side.The return of Danny Amendola to full health— he played on Monday, but was a game time decision and was a bystander for the most part—should help Color Rush Austin Bryant Jersey , but the Lions need an outside receiver that can regularly get open for Stafford.

Part of what became the 2019 Miami Dolphins draft class was the trade for a new quarterback in Josh Rosen from the Arizona Cardinals. Tonight’s question of the day is do you feel that the Dolphins..."Part of what became the 2019 Miami Dolphins draft class was the trade for a new quarterback in Josh Rosen from the Arizona Cardinals. Tonight’s question of the day is do you feel that the Dolphins found our may have found their quarterback of the future in Josh Rosen or is he just a stop gap until we find our guy or draft him next season? As well as this almost nightly post serving as the Phinsider Question Of The Day post it will also serve as a live thread meaning that pretty much anything is up for discussion so long as you continue to follow all of the site rules. If you are T.J. McDonald Jersey , for whatever reason, not aware of or need a refresher of the sites rules please check the “library” tab under the “more” tab at the top of the front page. The page not only has all of the sites rules but also has a ton of good tips to make your blogging experience here much more enjoyable or at least more smooth. Defensive tackle Kendrick Norton‘s football career is over. Until toward, he remained on the Miami Dolphins’ active roster.The Dolphins have placed Norton on a reserve list that will allow them William Hayes Jersey , if they so choose, to pay his salary for the season.The Dolphins announced that they have placed Norton on reserve/non-football injury list. That officially ends his season.It now will be up to the Dolphins to decide whether to pay Norton, a seventh-round pick of the Panthers in 2018 Akeem Spence Jersey , his $495,000 base salary. Although it would have been an uphill climb for him to make the 53-man roster, it’s something that owner Stephen Ross may decide to do in order to help Norton’s very difficult transition A.J. Derby Jersey , following the automobile accident that resulted in the amputation of his left arm.Norton’s medical expenses (he’s had at least six surgeries) have been and will be covered by the team’s and/or the league’s health insurance.

KANSAS CITY Chad Henne Jersey , Mo. (AP) — Chiefs safety Eric Berry sounded confident Friday that he’ll be on the field when Kansas City plays the New England Patriots in the AFC championship game at Arrowhead Stadium.The three-time All-Pro has been a full participant in practice this week after dealing with a heel injury, but needs the OK from coach Andy Reid to take the field on Sunday night.“I feel pretty good. Just talk to coach and see what he wants to do and go from there,” Berry said. “It would mean a lot not just for me and my family and my teammates, but the organization.”Berry tore his Achilles’ tendon in last year’s opener, sidelining him the rest of the season. He returned in time for summer workouts and the start of training camp. But a mysterious heel injury popped up that kept Berry off the field until Week 15 against the Chargers.Berry played more the following week on the turf in Seattle, but the injury recurred and he missed the regular-season finale against Oakland and the divisional round matchup against Indianapolis.“It was pretty frustrating Kendall Fuller Jersey , but you just have to keep rolling,” said Berry, who nevertheless broke down the pregame huddle with an emotional pep talk. “Keep focused and keep your head down.”Berry has become a pro at overcoming adversity.He missed most of one season with a torn ACL in his knee, and he missed the end of another when he was diagnosed with cancer. In both instances, he recovered in time to play the following season.However, those situations were relatively straightforward. There was a clear diagnosis and obvious path toward recovery. But the heel has been a challenge for Berry and the organization Eric Murray Jersey , once viewed as a “day-to-day” situation that became a saga that lasted months.There have been various reports, always citing unnamed sources, of a heel deformity that causes intense pain, but the Chiefs and Berry have refused to confirm them.Asked several times about the injury Friday, Berry merely replied: “It’s hard to explain.”Berry said he wasn’t concerned about the field causing the heel problems. It was torn up in the divisional round after several inches of snow fell before the game. The grounds crew spent this week replacing the turf between the hashes, along the sidelines and in one of the end zones.“I’m just being prepared for every situation Terrance Smith Jersey ,” Berry said. “Our field crew, grounds crew is very good. They do a very good job. Just trusting in them that they can get the job done.”Berry’s value lies not just in his athletic ability, though the Chiefs could use some help covering Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski on Sunday. Rather, his biggest benefit to a defense that has struggled mightily at times this season may be his leadership and on-field demeanor.“A huge impact. He’s a huge player for us,” Chiefs linebacker Dee Ford said, while defensive tackle Chris Jones said “the physicality he brings to this team and the leadership role is amazing.”When he’s at his best Xavier Williams Jersey , Berry is one of the best safeties in the NFL, adequate in coverage and dynamic at stuffing the run. But even at a fraction of his best, Berry is still talented enough to impact a game, and that’s why his return could prove so critical to the Chiefs.“I mean, Eric’s a good football player. He’s an All-Pro player,” Reid said. “That’d be an obvious statement Jordan Lucas Jersey , but it’s another good player in the mix. A great player.”Notes: Chiefs OLB Dorian O’Daniel (hamstring) was ruled out for the game. … WR Sammy Watkins (foot) and RB Spencer Ware (hamstring) participated in practice all week and are expected to play. There’s finally been some positive news about Chiefs safety Eric Berry‘s health in recent days and head coach Andy Reid left open the possibility that Berry is going to practice next week.Berry’s return to practice may be even likelier than Reid suggested earlier this week. Sam Mellinger of the Kansas City Star reports that Berry “almost certainly” will get on the field heading into Week 13.A return to game action is probably a bit further away, however. Mellinger reports that Berry playing against the Raiders in Week 13 is considered unlikely.Getting a healthy Berry in form close to his best days would be a sizable boost to a Chiefs defense that could use the help in the back end. After missing all but a few minutes of last season with a torn Achilles and all of this season, it’s hard to know if Berry is going to be in that kind of shape once he does hit the field.

ALAMEDA https://www.raiderslockerroom.com/authentic-antonio-brown-jersey , Calif. (AP) — The message Jon Gruden delivered when he was introduced at a celebratory news conference announcing his second stint as Oakland Raiders coach has changed.After promising in January to deliver Oakland fans two of the best years of football he could before the team leaves for Las Vegas in 2020, Gruden is now preaching patience after three straight losses to open the season. Gruden is feeling the heat that comes with a rough start on the field for a coach with a 10-year contract worth a reported $100 million.“It’s justifiable,” Gruden said. “I have a pretty good idea of what this business is all about. But I’m also realistic. I’m also very optimistic. I’m going to continue to work hard. I think I have as good a coaching staff as there is in football. The results will happen. It might not happen this week. It might not happen this month, next month, but we’re going to get results here and we’re going to get this Oakland Raider football team back on track. We just have to prove it.”The only thing the Raiders have proven so far in three weeks is that they can stay close even if they can’t win. Oakland has led at halftime in all three games before ending up on the losing side, becoming just the second team in 20 seasons to start 0-3 despite leading every game at the half.The Raiders haven’t trailed for a single second in the first three quarters all season, falling behind on the final play of the third in the opener against the Rams and then blowing late leads in back-to-back weeks on the road at Denver and Miami. Oakland hosts Cleveland on Sunday.That inability to finish has only been heightened because of Gruden’s biggest decision yet as coach. He traded away star pass rusher Khalil Mack to Chicago for a package of draft picks after Mack held out in a contract dispute.That decision only looks worse each week as the Raiders rank last in the league with one takeaway and three sacks, while Mack has four sacks, three forced fumbles, one fumble recovery and an interception return for a touchdown all on his own.“It’s hard to trade one of your best players. One of the best players on a franchise,” Gruden said. “It’s hard. It’s hard on the players. We didn’t get anything for him that’s going to help us out this year. … We have a lot of guys on the defensive line that are out. We have had to replace basically the entire secondary, some of the linebackers Womens Derek Carr Jersey , and we’re in the process of putting the pieces back together.”When owner Mark Davis lured Gruden out of the broadcast booth, the hope was that better coaching was all it would take to get the Raiders back to the level they were at when they won 12 games in 2016 — their only winning season since 2002, the year after Gruden was traded to Tampa Bay by late owner Al Davis.But Gruden clearly believed the roster wasn’t that close to winning. He spent much of the offseason cutting ties with recent high draft picks made by general manager Reggie McKenzie, and brought in several veterans to fill the holes created by those wasted draft classes he has been quick to bemoan.The results from those veterans have been mixed, with a few good performances like Jordy Nelson’s big receiving game in Miami but not much impact overall.The Raiders had been spending the past few years trying to build their team around Mack and quarterback Derek Carr. With Mack traded, Carr is the only pillar remaining and the big step forward the team hoped he’d take under Gruden’s tutelage has yet to materialize.Carr is completing 76.6 percent of his passes and averaging 312 yards passing per game. But he is also tied for the league high with five interceptions and has failed to lead the offense to more than 20 points in any game.Carr has been criticized by Gruden for not taking some deep shots to Amari Cooper in the opener, and being overly aggressive on a fourth-quarter interception in the end zone that thwarted a comeback attempt last week in Miami.“We’re figuring that out together,” Carr said of striking the right balance of aggressiveness and prudence.All is not hopeless in Oakland as evidenced by the fact the Raiders have actually been in the lead nearly two-thirds of the time this season. Gruden’s offense has some new wrinkles he’s taken from closely watching the rest of the league from his time as a broadcaster.He has frequently been able to develop schemes that have receivers open downfield, and the Raiders have moved the ball consistently even if it hasn’t led to points. Oakland has the sixth-most yards but the fifth-fewest points this season, a dichotomy that stems from the worst starting field position in the league and some red-zone struggles.The defense has looked sound most of the time, but has been burned by a handful of big plays that have proved decisive.Gruden has been around long enough to know that progress means little without results.“We have to start putting some wins in the column and that’s what Raiders fans want,” Gruden said. “That’s what we want and that’s what we are after.” It’s a busy Tuesday for the Raiders. First they signed top pick Clelin Ferrell Antonio Brown Raiders Jersey , then lock in second round pick Trayvon Mullen to his 4-year rookie deal.Mullen was the Raiders pick at 40 overall in..." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesSilver And Black Pride homepageHorizontal - WhiteSilver And Black Pridean Oakland Raiders communityFollow Silver And Black Pride online:Follow Silver And Black Pride on TwitterFollow Silver And Black Pride on FacebookLog in or sign upLog InSign UpSite searchSearchSearchSilver And Black Pride main menuFanpostsFanshotsRaidersOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 321 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Raiders StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Raiders NewsYahoo Raiders Team PageYahoo Raiders ReportYahoo Raiders Depth ChartYahoo Raiders TransactionsYahoo Raiders PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Second round pick Trayvon Mullen signs 4-year rookie deal with RaidersNew,10commentsPDTShare this storyShare this on FacebookShare this on TwitterShareAll sharing optionsShareAll sharing options for:Second round pick Trayvon Mullen signs 4-year rookie deal with RaidersTwitterFacebookRedditPocketFlipboardEmailOakland RaidersIt’s a busy Tuesday for the Raiders. First they signed top pick Clelin Ferrell, then lock in second round pick Trayvon Mullen to his 4-year rookie deal.Mullen was the Raiders pick at 40 overall in April’s draft. He and Ferrell starred for the Clemson National Championship team. Mullen was a lock down cornerback starting 26 games over three seasons for the Tigers, with a career four interceptions and 12 passes defended. The 6-1, 195-pound cornerback was named second-team All-American by ACFA and second-team All-ACC in 2018 while earning All-ACC Honorable Mention in 2017. He his best on the big stage, pulling in his only interception of last season along with a sack and forced fumble vs Alabama in the National Championship game, winning Defensive MVP.All of the Raiders day three picks were signed ahead of rookie minicamp. These two signings leaves just their two low first round picks still to be signed — RB Josh Jacobs, and S Johnathan Abrams. At this rate, they could be signed in short order.Follow @LeviDamien

Your one-stop shop for Houston Texans Charles Omenihu Jersey 2019 , local sports, and news from around the league for Thursday, April 25, 2019." />Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBattle Red Bloga Houston Texans communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsTexansOddsAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Texans StoriesScheduleRosterStatsYahoo Texans NewsYahoo Texans Team PageYahoo Texans ReportYahoo Texans Depth ChartYahoo Texans TransactionsYahoo Texans PhotosOdds About Masthead Community Guidelines StubHub ✕Filed under:Battle Red Newswire2019 Houston Texans OffseasonHouston Texans News: April 25, 2019New,809commentsYour one-stop shop for Houston Texans, local sports, and news from around the league for Thursday, April 25 Color Rush Charles Omenihu Jersey , 2019.CDTShareTweetShareShareHouston Texans News: April 25, 2019Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty ImagesHouston Texans NewsBYU LB Sione Takitaki visits Texans, several others (Houston Chronicle)NFL NewsBig Ben extension nets $68 million in new money (NFL.com)Draft buzz: ‘Skins exploring trading up into top five (NFL.com)NFL warns Coughlin about remarks on workouts (NFL.com)Raiders moving on from Lynch; RB plans to retire (NFL.com)Eagles’ Agholor believed to be available for trade (NFL.com)Spielman: Wife says don’t come home if I draft CB (NFL.com)Cutting through the draft fog: Ten things to believe (NFL.com)Ravens make Tucker highest-paid kicker in league (NFL.com)Brandt: Team fits for top pass-rushing prospects (NFL.com)Houston & Collegiate SportsEric Gordon is peaking at the right time (The Dream Shake)Astros Prospect Stock Report 2019: Volume 1 (Crawfish Boxes) Hey, at least it was better than 2017." 2019 Houston Texans OffseasonFootball Outsiders Adjusted Games Lost And The Houston TexansNew,5commentsHey, at least it was better than 2017. CDTThere’s cracklings of content coming from Football Outsiders as they compile their numbers and get started on their big almanac, a national treasure, that reawakens my love for football every year. One of the key statistics they have is adjusted games lost, which is defined below from their website:(you can read this year’s article here)Adjusted games lost Cheap Charles Omenihu Jersey , and health is one of those wonky stats that tends to fluctuate without reason every year. Like its brethren one possession record, wins above expected, and turnover differential, teams who live on the outskirts of the bell curve one season, tend to roll their way back to the middle the next. In 2017 the Texans finished 4-12. One of the main reasons for this was injuries. Deshaun Watson shredded his knee, J.J. Watt missed just about the entire season, Lamar Miller was banged up, D’Onta Foreman was lost for the year, Nick Martin missed time Charles Omenihu Jersey Womens , Will Fuller was hurt of course, it was a talented team that had to play Tom Savage, and the results were disastrous. That season Houston finished 29th with 107.3 adjusted games lost. Last year things weren’t great, but they were better. Watt played the entire season along with Jadeveon Clowney, DeAndre Hopkins, and Deshaun Watson. They lost Seantrel Henderson immediately, Andre Hal eventually came back, and Will Fuller once again sat on the best. Houston finished 20th with 89.6 adjusted games lost, which is regression to the mean. If you want to know how the rest of the AFC South fared Charles Omenihu Houston Texans Jersey , Tennessee finished 11th, Jacksonville finished 27th after dealing with their own season from hell, and the Colts finished 30th, and still made the postseason. Like those other high variance statistics, keep these numbers in mind once we are all able to actually think about the 2019 season, instead of chew on what just happened this past offseason.

Has a head coach ever hired an assistant who he doesn’t publicly trust? Has there ever been an instance in any industry where a hirer didn’t back the person who he or she hired right after they’ve been hired? If you thought this would happen with Zac Taylor and Jim Turner Rodney Anderson Jersey Womens , you have been incredibly mistaken.Amidst the backlash regarding the reports of Taylor and the Bengals hiring Turner as their offensive line coach, Taylor spoke about the criticisms directed his way just two days into his tenure as head coach.“I know the man and I know he’s a great person, great human. And so, somebody I trust,” Taylor told reporters on Thursday. “We talked about culture and bringing the right people in this building and I would never do anything that would tarnish the reputation of the Brown family and the Bengals organization if I didn’t believe in the person and know the person inside and out. ...And that’s why I’m excited to get Jim in here. Football coaching aside, I like the person and I know the person.”Friends often have high opinions of each other. Taylor and Turner’s days on the same coaching staff spans back to 2008, and Taylor was the one who hired Turner as the University of Cincinnati’s running backs coach when he joined on as offensive coordinator in 2016. Taylor also said that Turner was his No. 1 choice for the job now, despite the past that Turner carries with him.“Well, I think everyone gets caught in some situations sometimes that they wish they would do differently, but again, I know those situations inside and out and I feel very comfortable bringing Jim in here and all the other guys we’re bringing in,” Taylor explained, regarding Turner’s past.Taylor was with Turner when the bullying scandal in the Miami eventually got Turner fired. he assuredly knew the ins and outs of the scandal at the Texas A&M women’s football clinic a few years ago that got Taylor suspended. Knowing that as soon as Turner’s name became associated with the team he know coaches for Rodney Anderson Cincinnati Bengals Jersey , rightful backlash would follow. Taylor didn’t waver to brush it aside.“On the surface sometimes things look a certain way,” He explained. “And so, again, I feel very comfortable with the decision to bring him in. I anticipated something like this and felt very comfortable. Maybe if I didn’t know someone who had been through those situations, but I know it, and I know him, and I know what he’s all about and I feel very comfortable. I know that this is the right decision.”When things look a certain way on the surface, sometimes it’s because they are what they look like. Sometimes they’re not, and that’s what Taylor is trying to push. Who are we to tell Taylor who his friend is? We don’t know him like he does, we weren’t in that locker room in Miami or in the clinic in College Station.But we weren’t born yesterday either, and all of our naivety evaporated over the years of the Marvin Lewis press conference experience. In an incredible double down, Taylor also had this to say about Turner:We can think of one, but whatever.Nevertheless Rodney Anderson Jersey 2019 , Taylor expressed zero reservations about hiring his friend and former colleague, and did his best to support him unequivocally. ”I don’t need the buffer, because to be honest with you, I know what I know. And so, I shouldn’t have hired him because he left me at UC after like a week and a half, so he should’ve been dead to me,” Taylor joked.”But he’s not, because I know what he’s about, and the people in the community will understand that. You all will understand that. I feel very comfortable. I don’t need any buffering. He was out for two years and I hired him at UC. That was my decision. And so I felt very comfortable standing up here in front of whoever I need to stand in front of and explain the reasoning behind it.”We’ll see coach, we’ll see. CINCINNATI (AP) — Bengals coach Marvin Lewis shut down the question immediately, making it clear he won’t be talking about the latest addition to his staff — one who’s in an unusual position to influence the next game.Only last month, Hue Jackson was Cleveland’s head coach, intimately involved in the Browns‘ game planning. Now he’s on the Bengals sideline with Lewis Rodney Anderson Jersey Mens , trying to beat the Browns — a sensitive subject that the head coach is trying to put off limits.“I think I’ve answered enough Hue questions, OK?” Lewis said Wednesday with an edge to his tone. “We’re done. We’re over.”Oh, no. The intrigue is just getting started.The Bengals (5-5) desperately need to beat the Browns (3-6-1) at Paul Brown Stadium to remain relevant in the playoff chase. They’ve lost four of five , fired their defensive coordinator and installed Lewis as leader of a historically bad unit.As part of the shuffle, he brought back a close friend at an opportune time.Jackson was fired by the Browns on Oct. 29 after winning only three games in three seasons. Lewis brought him back to Cincinnati for the third time , creating a role of special assistant. Jackson helps develop the weekly game plan on defense and provides tips on the sideline during games.His input will be especially useful this week. Jackson knows the Browns’ tendencies and the players’ strengths and weaknesses.“That was very unique,” defensive end Carlos Dunlap said. “He knows the players, he knows the staff. They just got a new (offensive coordinator), so they’re probably calling things differently than when (Jackson) left. So you have your advantages there.”It’s not unusual for a team to pick up a player who was released by an upcoming opponent, but it’s highly unusual to get the other team’s former head coach.One more unique feature to this intrastate matchup: Both head coaches will be calling the defensive plays. Defensive coordinator Gregg Williams was elevated to interim coach after Jackson was fired. Lewis took over the defensive coordinator duties after Teryl Austin was fired on Nov. 12.“It brings a smile to my face,” Williams said Wednesday during a conference call. “It’s kind of unique.”It’s challenging to analyze what the opposing offense is doing and adjust defensively while also running the overall game. That’s where Jackson’s presence could be especially helpful on Sunday.The Browns are coming off a bye week that gave them a chance to add a few things that Jackson won’t anticipate.“He’s not there (in Cleveland) anymore, so they could have changed a lot of those things,” Dunlap said. “So you don’t want to get caught guessing. But it’s good to know what they like to do and what they’re built and set up for Youth Rodney Anderson Jersey , so it’s great to have that understanding.”Jackson jogged off the practice field on Wednesday and declined to stop and talk about his reunion with Cleveland, referring questions to the closed-lipped Lewis.A.J. GETTING CLOSERReceiver A.J. Green could return against Cleveland. He’s missed the past two games with an injured toe on his right foot, and the offense struggled in losses to the Saints and Ravens . Green didn’t practice Wednesday, but Lewis said he will work out the rest of the week, aiming to be ready by Sunday.Left tackle Cordy Glenn (back) and cornerback Dre Kirkpatrick (shoulder) also missed practice. Defensive end Michael Johnson (calf) and safety Shawn Williams (hamstring) were limited.BROWN’S DISAPPOINTMENTThe Bengals figured they’d upgraded their linebacker group when they signed durable Preston Brown from Buffalo in the offseason. He was limited by a right ankle injury that he suffered the first game, and he injured his right knee during a 51-14 loss to the Saints. The Bengals put him on injured reserve Tuesday and signed defensive end/linebacker Kasim Edebali, a college free agent who has played with the Saints, Broncos, Lions and Rams. Lewis said Brown might have surgery on his ankle now that he can’t return this season.