Around The AFC North: Ravens Work Out Bailey, Steelers And Browns Dealing With Injuries

With the Cincinnati Bengals taking one on the chin Sunday night, the AFC North division race has tightened up a bit, heading into Week Six. The Cleveland Browns and Pittsburgh Steelers eked out wins, while the Ravens lost along with Cincinnati. Basically, about one game separates these teams from each other, with Cincinnati (3-1) holding the tiebreaker in a head-to-head game against Baltimore (3-2).

News surrounding the teams outside of The Queen City is heating up, as these teams are doing what they can to narrow the margin and potentially gain the division lead. We take a quick spin around the division to give you some of the big stories around these three clubs.

Baltimore Ravens:

Seemingly desperate for some secondary help, the Ravens worked out future Hall of Fame cornerback, Champ Bailey on Tuesday. Marc Sessler with NFL.com notes that the tryout was in response to an injury to cornerback Asa Jackson, though the team did re-sign Dominique Franks. Sessler also notes that Jackson could be a candidate for IR-Return.

Bailey was picked up by the New Orleans Saints this offseason, but was released because of limited play in the preseason due to a foot injury. Bailey has also worked out for the Lions, who have had secondary issues of their own in 2014. It's usually around this point in the season where grizzled veterans looking for a job are called up because of injuries.

More news bits can be found at SB Nation's Baltimore Beatdown site here.

Cleveland Browns:

Unfortunately for them, the Browns will be without the services of one of their best defensive players. Pat McManamon, who covers the team for ESPN reports that Taylor will be out of commission for a few weeks because of a knee scope.

#Browns: DL Phil Taylor has knee scope, out for a few weeks.

— PatMcManamon (@PatMcManamon) October 8, 2014

Taylor has had a solid career since joining Cleveland as the No.21 overall pick in the 2011 draft. He was voted to the PFWA All-Rookie Team and has been a disruptive player on a Browns defensive unit that has been pretty stout over the past few seasons. The Bengals play the Browns on November 6th, which might mark both Taylor's return, as well as that of Bengals tight end Tyler Eifert, who has been on IR-Return with a dislocated elbow.

You can find more stories on the Browns at the SB Nation Dawgs By Nature site here.

Pittsburgh Steelers:

If it seems like the Steelers are missing a couple of familiar names on defense, it's because they have been injured. Longtime cornerback Ike Taylor has been out of the lineup, as have rookie linebackers Jarvis Jones and  Ryan Shazier, as well as safety Shamarko Thomas.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said that he believes that there is a chance for both Thomas and Shazier to practice this week, per the team's website. The folks over at SB Nation's Behind The Steel Curtain are a little less optimistic of their return this week against the Browns.

Jones and Taylor will continue to miss extensive time this season, as Jones was put on IR-Return with a wrist injury and Taylor recuperating with a broken arm.