Bengals Bytes (9/2): Decisions, decisions

Bengals split on injuries on eve of cuts
That sound is Bengaldom exhaling with initial reports that wide receiver John Ross’ right knee injury that he suffered in Thursday’s pre-season finale isn’t serious. It’s unclear what his status is for the Sept. 10 opener against Baltimore at Paul Brown Stadium, but it looks like he and six other receivers are going to be on the roster at Saturday’s cut to the limit of 53.

Reports: Bengals' John Ross has sprained knee, in doubt for opener
Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver John Ross has a sprained knee, the NFL Network reports. Bengals.com writer Geoff Hobson tweeted that Ross's injury is not believed to be serious but could keep him out for a couple of weeks. At the very least, his Week 1 status is in doubt.

Walkthru: Breaking down the Cincinnati Bengals' 53-man roster bubble
Every year, driving home from the final preseason game against Indianapolis, most of the discussion revolves around how happy everyone should be this time of year is finally over. And I know coaches need that game for help developing the practice squad and seeing tape of young players, but the day we rid ourselves of the fourth preseason game will be one where I’ll do the Domata Peko belly dance in the streets.

Bengals: John Ross has sprained knee, Jeff Driskel broken fingers
On one play Thursday night in Indianapolis, John Ross flashed all of the rewards, and the risk, with taking him No. 9 overall in the 2017 NFL Draft. He took an end-around from AJ McCarron, displaying top-level speed to the edge and bursting upfield out of the flailing arms of Colts defenders. The one cut he made, from left to right, looked quick and fast, too. But it wasn't quite Ross-fast. And that's because, on the cut, The Enquirer confirmed he sprained his left knee. It is the same knee he had his anterior cruciate ligament repaired while at the University of Washington.

5 things to know about Cincinnati Bengals loss to Colts
Things couldn’t have gone much worse for the Cincinnati Bengals in their preseason finale Thursday night at Indianapolis. The main objective in the final game is to avoid injury, but first-round pick John Ross exited with a left knee injury and third-string quarterback Jeff Driskel left after hurting his thumb on his first series. And while the Bengals were trying to pick a winner in the kicking battle, they exposed backup quarterback AJ McCarron to multiple shots in the fourth quarter as they drove into field goal range three times, only to miss all three kicks to drop a 7-6 decision at Lucas Oil Stadium.

AFC North Bytes

Martavis Bryant Reinstated for 2017 Regular Season After Yearlong Suspension
Wide receiver Martavis Bryant is officially back with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The NFL announced it reinstated the playmaker for the 2017 regular season Friday, per Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle, ending the suspension that forced him to miss the 2016 campaign.

Brock Osweiler Cut by Browns After Offseason Trade from Texans
Brock Osweiler's time as a Cleveland Brown is over, according to The Athletic's Zac Jackson and Bleacher Report's Matt Miller. The Browns reportedly released Osweiler on Friday and will pay him the full $16 million he's due in 2017, barring a claim on waivers. Signed to a four-year, $72 million deal by the Houston Texans last March, Osweiler was traded to Cleveland on March 9 along with a second-round pick in a pure salary dump.

Ravens Announce 24 Roster Moves, Have 14 More to Make
The Ravens trimmed their roster by 24 players Friday afternoon. After adding offensive lineman Tony Bergstrom via a trade, Baltimore still has 14 more moves to make before getting down to 53 by the 4 p.m. deadline Saturday. The Ravens waived the following players

Random Bytes

The NFL is going to insulting lengths to prove that CTE isn’t a problem
The NFL is funding its own concussion studies now. The first thing it did was study horse jockeys, not football players.

Sheldon Richardson Traded to Seattle; Jets Get Jermaine Kearse, Picks
The New York Jets traded defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson to the Seattle Seahawks in exchange for wide receiver Jermaine Kearse and draft considerations Friday, the Seahawks announced. Adam Schefter of ESPN first passed along word of the trade, adding the Jets also received a second-round pick and a seventh-round pick, while the Seahawks also landed a seventh-rounder.

Victor Cruz Reportedly Cut by Chicago Bears After Signing in Offseason
Wide receiver Victor Cruz's tenure with the Chicago Bears is reportedly over before he even saw the field for a regular-season contest. On Friday, Art Stapleton of The Record cited a source and reported the Bears will release Cruz after inking him to a one-year deal this offseason. The 30-year-old was a Pro Bowler and Super Bowl champion as a member of the New York Giants, but he didn't display the dynamic playmaking ability of his past during the preseason with Chicago.

Willie Snead Suspended 3 Games for Substance Abuse Violation
The NFL suspended New Orleans Saints wide receiver Willie Snead for the first three games of the 2017 season on Friday, according to ESPN.com's Field Yates. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport added the ban was reduced from four games to three on appeal after Snead violated the league's policy on substances of abuse.