AFC North Notes: Smith, Steelers, Perriman

Ravens wide receiver Steve Smith is jogging again but he won’t put a timetable on his return just yet, as Jamison Hensley of ESPN.com writes.

“I don’t know when I’m coming back,” he said. “I just know I have to be able to do something in training camp to be able to play for the season. That’s just the way I operate. I can’t go from doing absolutely nothing [and] sitting on my butt for all of training camp and then go out there and play.”

At 37, Smith is the oldest wide receiver in the NFL. He was more effective than ever in the first half of the 2015 season, with 46 receptions for 670 yards in his seven games. All in all, the 95.7 yards per game average was the second-highest of Smith’s 15-year NFL career.

Here’s more from the AFC North:

• The Steelers have lots of offseason work ahead of them, as Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com writes. Several important players are scheduled to hit the open market after the 2016 season, including guard David DeCastro and running back Le’Veon Bell. Fowler sees the Steelers first focusing on DeCastro, then moving on to their marquee running back. When it comes to Bell, things could take a while to unfold as his knee issues could complicate talks. After those two, Pittsburgh can be expected to look into new deals for receiver Markus Wheaton and linebackers Jarvis Jones, Lawrence Timmons, James Harrison, and Arthur Moats.
• Breshad Perriman’s latest knee injury means that the Ravens‘ other pass catching options have to step it up, including offseason addition Mike Wallace, Clifton Brown of CSNMidAtlantic.com writes. Wallace is coming off his worst NFL season with the Vikings, recording just 39 catches, 473 yards, and two touchdowns. Still, he’ll be counted upon to provide the Ravens with a serious deep threat along with fourth-round rookie Chris Moore. The latest word is that Perriman might not miss the entire 2016 season.
• Is Bengals coach Marvin Lewis on the hot seat? Recently, Jason La Canfora of CBSSports.com listed him as one of seven coaches who are on shaky footing.
• Browns coach Hue Jackson says that RGIII is getting a clean slate in Cleveland.