TRICKS FOR AJ
Gordon, who led the NFL in receiving with 1,646 yards in 2013, last played in a regular season game on Dec. 22, 2014. The 26-year-old receiver missed the 2015 and 2016 season after multiple violations of the league substance abuse policy. — Ari Gilberg
AJ McCarron was getting his son ready to trick-or-treat as Ace Ventura when his agent called with shocking news: The Bengals were trading the quarterback to the Cleveland Browns. Then came another jolt: The trade fell through because paperwork wasn’t filed with the NFL office in time.
McCarron was still processing the whirlwind events Wednesday, a day after a paperwork snafu meant he’d stay in Cincinnati as Andy Dalton’s backup. The AFC North rivals agreed to the trade shortly before the 4 p.m. deadline. The Bengals say they filed their paperwork on the deal, holding up their end of the bargain.
“All you have to do is notify the league office you’re making a deal and that’s an easy thing, which we spoke to a person in there,” coach Marvin Lewis said Wednesday.
McCarron doesn’t understand how the trade was botched.
“There’s no telling,” McCarron said. “I’m lost like everybody else.”
He’ll be on the Bengals sideline Sunday when Cincinnati (3-4) plays at Jacksonville (4-3).
FLACCO’S BACK: Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco has recovered from the concussion he sustained last week and expects to start Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.
HOYER TO PATS: The Patriots signed former 49ers quarterback Brian Hoyer to fill the backup QB role, a day after Hoyer was released by San Francisco following its acquisition of Jimmy Garoppolo from New England.
OSWEILER TO START: Brock Osweiler has supplanted Trevor Siemian as the Denver Broncos’ starting quarterback, two people familiar with the decision told The AP. Speaking on condition of anonymity because the team hasn’t publicly announced the switch, both people confirmed coach Vance Joseph informed his players of the QB switch at a team meeting. The Broncos (3-4) visit NFL-leading Philadelphia (7-1) on Sunday. With AP