AFC Notes: Browns, Dolphins, Patriots, Raiders

Browns

Browns HC Hue Jackson told reporters that they will likely have No. 1 overall pick Myles Garrett on a pitch count during Week 5’s game against the Jets.

“I’m sure we’ll have him on a pitch count,” Jackson said, via ESPN.com. “Again, he’s just now getting back to practice a week ago. He’s put together a week-and-a-half of practice. But still he’s been off for quite a while too, so I think we got to be smart about our expectations of him this weekend.”

Dolphins

The Dolphins elected to bench veteran CB Byron Maxwell last week and he tells Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald that he didn’t think his play warranted being sent to the sideline.

“ … in no way, shape, did I think my play [warranted] that,” Maxwell said. “It’s a coach’s decision. Sometimes you have to deal with it. I’m a team player. Suck it up. Obviously, you think you’re the best man to do the job. You can’t control it. Everyone is trying to support your family trying to do the job.”

According to Armando Salguero, Maxwell’s benching was due to the coaching staff being frustrated with his decision to not play the specific defense being called during the game.

Salguero writes that the Dolphins’ coaches actually called for him to play press man for a good portion of their game against the Jets, but he elected to play different technique on his own.

Patriots

• Mike Reiss first reported that Patriots DL Alan Branch will be a healthy scratch for Thursday’s game against the Buccaneers, as he didn’t travel with the team to Tampa Bay.
• According to Ben Volin, this will cost Branch a $40,625 active roster bonus.

Raiders

• Raiders LT Donald Penn told reporters on Thursday that QB Derek Carr (back) said he is “very ahead of schedule.” (Vic Tafur)
• Michael Gehlken mentions that Carr took part in Thursday’s practice and did some drill activity for Raiders. With this in mind, Gehlken says a Week 6 return “can’t be ruled out” for Carr.