AFC North: News and Injury Reports From Around the Division

Jun 11, 2013; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin (left) talks with quarterback Ben Roethlisberger (right) during minicamp drills at the UPMC Sports Complex. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Now that Cincinnati’s minicamps are over, let’s take a look at some recent news around the AFC North.

According to ESPN’s Jamison Hensley, Matt Elam is picking up the Baltimore defense quickly, and will likely challenge for the starting safety spot come Week 1.

The Ravens have had some injuries coming into OTAs and mandatory minicamps. Defensive tackle Haloti Ngata (sprained left knee), tight end Ed Dickson (strained groin), guard Marshal Yanda (shoulder) and nose tackle Terrence Cody (hip) didn’t practice.

Just a day after Vonta Leach’s agent said the Browns were showing interest in the fullback, two reports said otherwise, according to Hensley. The two reports came from The Plain Dealer and the Akron Beacon Journal, which both stated that no visit had been planned.

Perhaps most intriguing is the fact that Ben Roesthlisberger was out on the field throwing the football less than a week after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery on his meniscus.

A lot of Pittsburgh’s success will depend on the health of their star quarterback., as he has had a rough year in terms of injuries.

No major injuries have been reported in Cincinnati; just a few minor ones. Marvin Lewis is happy with the progress his team has made during the offseason, telling the Cincinnati Enquirer, “I think we’ve improved mentally and physically.”