Bengals

Bengals HC Zac Taylor gave his vote of confidence to DE Shemar Stewart as the injuries continue to pile up on the defensive line. 

“We’re well built in that room. It’ll provide more opportunities for guys like Shemar,” Taylor said, via Bengals Wire. “We knew a day like this would come. It’s always unfortunate when a guy gets hurt. That’s why you have the depth. Shemar has been doing everything he can to control his spot. We trust him to go in there and make some plays for us.”

Browns

Browns DE Jared Verse is still looking for his first sack since Cleveland acquired him. Browns HC Todd Monken thinks Verse is still adjusting to their defensive style, and it’s a “matter of time” for him to begin producing. 

“Well, I think it’s too early to say anything. I mean, I love the way Jared works every day since he’s come here, just like all of our guys, he loves to work,” Monken said, via PFT. “He likes being on the field and practicing. And I think it’s a matter of adapting to our style, which is, you know, there are some things that aren’t as similar to what he was used to doing with the Rams and the attack style. And I think it’s just a matter of time before, you know, he really gets comfortable in what we’re doing defensively. And it’s unfair to compare him to Myles Garrett. I think that’s always been unfair. Myles is in an elite category of his own. That’s okay. I mean, that’s who he is. But we just need Jared to be the best version of Jared, and I think we’re going to continue to see growth there. And again, what will help us? Be ahead in games, force the other team to throw it, and I think you’ll start to see his sacks start to pile up.”

Steelers

Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers told reporters the team is right where it needs to be as it heads into a bye week after a win over the Browns.

“Not very complete,” Rodgers said of the win over Cleveland, via NFL.com. “Defense played excellent. Special teams did fine. But offense should have had a lot more points. There were a couple opportunities. We didn’t execute down there on the goal line. We’d like to play our best and still win…we also like to win. We’re 6-2 going into the bye, first in the division. We’re right where we want to be.”