NFL Notes: Bengals, Bills, Patriots, Texans, & Vikings

 

Bengals

• G Clint Boling, who’s coming off of a torn ACL, could be ready for the start of training camp. (Geoff Hobson)

Bills

Joe Buscaglia of WGR 550 Buffalo considers Mike Williams and Marquise Goodwin to be locks to make the Bills’ 53-man roster.

This probably doesn’t come as a huge shock given that the Bills actually traded for Williams a few months ago, but there was some speculation that Williams could be in danger of not making the team’s final roster.

Williams, 26, still has five years remaining on his six-year, $40.25 million contract that included $9.4 million guaranteed. He has a base salary of $1.2 million to go along with $1 million roster bonuses for the 2014 season.

Last year, Williams was limited to playing in six games after he suffered a season-ending hamstring injury. He caught 22 passes for 216 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

Patriots

Patriots WR Aaron Dobson mentioned his foot is “doing better” and confirmed that there is a chance could be available for the start of training camp.

“It’s doing better, man,” Dobson tells the Boston Herald. “It’s getting better every day. Every week it’s getting better, so we’re just going to see where it’s at by the time camp starts.”

Nick Underhill of MassLive.com reported Wednesday that “there is now optimism” Dobson that will be ready for camp, so Dobson is really confirming this news.

During his rookie season, Dobson caught 37 passes for 519 yards receiving and four touchdowns.

Texans

Texans ILB Brian Cushing recently mentioned that he isn’t sure when he’ll receive clearance, but “knows” he’ll be ready for the start of the regular season, per John McClain.

Last year, Cushing went down with a torn LCL and a broken leg. Two years ago, he suffered a torn ACL to the same knee, so there will be some major injury concerns for him moving forward.

Cushing, 27, signed a six-year, $55.643 million contract that included $21 million guaranteed with the Texans back in September of last year. He was limited to appearing in just seven games in which he recorded 48 tackles, 1.5 sacks, a forced fumble and an interception returned for a touchdown.

Vikings

Vikings new OC Norv Turner mentioned that first-round QB Teddy Bridgewater is a “lot further along than I expected him to be.”

“I think he’s saying all the right things. He’s really a competitor,” said Turner, via Vikings.com. “I think he has his sights set on playing and playing well as soon as he can, so that’s what you want.”

It’s worth mentioning that Turner also said that Matt Cassel has had an “outstanding spring and is getting himself ready to really have a good year.”

Cassel figures to be odds-on favorite to win the Vikings starting job. However, Bridgewater still stands a chance of impressing the Vikings’ coaching staff and at least pushing Cassel for the job in the training camp and the preseason.