AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Bills HC Sean McDermott said RB LeSean McCoy is in a “pretty good spot” with his hamstring injury but they will “watch how he does today.” (Mike Rodak)
• Bills worked out seven players. (NFLTR)

Dolphins

• Dolphins HC Adam Gase was non-committal about CB Xavien Howard playing this week, but added: “It’s trending in the right direction.” (Adam Beasley)
• According to Gase, he and Frank Gore (injured reserve) have not discussed next season. (Armando Salguero)
• Dolphins placed RB Frank Gore on injured reserve. (NFLTR)
• Dolphins signed DT Kendrick Norton off of the Panthers’ practice squad. (NFLTR)

Jets

Rich Cimini of ESPN considers former Packers HC Mike McCarthy to the best fit for the Jets’ head-coaching job of all the available candidates out there right now.

Cimini mentions that this would be a change in direction for a team that has hired regarded defensive assistants with no head-coaching experience since Bill Parcells.

McCarthy could also help to develop QB Sam Darnold and place a larger emphasis on the offensive side of the ball.

• Manish Mehta of the New York Daily News believes the Jets will be a desirable landing spot for free agents, given that they have a large amount of cap space in 2019 and an up-and-coming quarterback in Sam Darnold.
• Mehta writes that the Jet have enough cap space to sign RB Le’Veon Bell and still address needs at offensive line and edge rusher.
• Regarding the possibility of signing Bell, Mehta writes that the Jets “desperately need” a game-changer.
• As for Jets WR Robby Anderson saying he wants a “long-term” contract with New York, Mehta expects the Anderson to receive a second-round restricted tender worth $3.1 million.

Patriots

Patriots OC Josh McDaniels said that WR Josh Gordon, who appeared in 58 snaps during Week 15, was removed from Sunday’s game due to fatigue.

“We had just kind of run quite a few plays in a row,” McDaniels said, via Phil Perry of NBC Sports. “I know there was a timeout there before that. Both of those guys have worked at that spot and in that type of a situation based on what we were doing. We just made the choice to go with [Cordarrelle Patterson] at that point.”

• Patriots signed OL Toby Weathersby to their practice squad.