AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• John Granato reported Monday that Texans franchise OLB Jadeveon Clowney refused to sign a long-term contract with the Dolphins that resulted in Miami backing out of a potential trade with the Texans. 
• Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, citing multiple league sources, reports that the Dolphins won’t be trading for Clowney and have no desire to pursue a deal for the franchise player.
• Instead, Salguero says the Dolphins are focused on landing one of the top quarterback prospects in next year’s draft including Georgia’s Jake Fromm, Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa or Oregon’s Justin Herbert.
• According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, Dolphins owner Stephen Ross doesn’t want this season to be an embarrassment, particularly in home games, even as the team tries to put itself in position for a franchise quarterback. 
• Ross has told the coaches to try to win, and believes that even if the Dolphins win around five games, they’ll still have enough draft capital to make a trade for a quarterback if necessary. 
• Jackson adds the Dolphins did their “due diligence” with Clowney but never pursued a trade. 
• Dolphins QB Josh Rosen says he is “indebted” to QB Ryan Fitzpatrick for his mentorship and help, but adds the veteran will “fight his balls off” to win the starting job. (Rick Stroud)

Jets

The Jets were already missing starting CB Trumaine Johnson with a week-to-week hamstring injury when CB Kyron Brown also left with a hamstring injury in Monday’s practice. Following the release of 2017 sixth-round CB Derrick Jones, that left the top three corners on the Jets roster as Darryl Roberts, Brian Poole and Arthur Maulet. Still, Jets HC Adam Gase said he’s not pushing the panic button. 

“I guess I don’t look at it like that,” Gase said via Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News. “I look at it as Trumaine is down right now, this is a great opportunity for a lot of guys. Like somebody has a chance to step up and make a name for themselves. Somebody has a chance to get in with that first defense, go against our wide receivers, go against our offense and Sam [Darnold] and those guys and see if a guy can play at that high level. I mean it’s a great opportunity.”

• Mehta says the Jets could contact GM Joe Douglas‘ former team the Eagles, who are deep at cornerback when everyone is healthy. However, the Eagles are also currently struggling with health at that position. 
• Gase mentioned the team hopes to have Johnson back for the season opener: “It’s all going to be about his body responds to rehab. I know he wants to be out there when we get going in the regular season for sure. He’ll do everything he can.”
• Jets DC Gregg Williams echoed Gase’s lack of concerns about depth in the secondary: “It’s about playing with the guys we have. I’ve been doing that for 30 years. That’s how it is. Everything’s good.” (Ralph Vacchiano)
• The Jets cornerback depth has been so depleted recently that S Jamal Adams volunteered to step in: “If they need me to go to corner, I’ll go to corner. I’m dead serious.” (Rich Cimini)
• So far, Jets ST coordinator Brant Boyer likes what he sees from new kicker Taylor Bertolet: “I have a lot of confidence in the kid. He kicks a great ball. He’s got a strong leg.” (Ralph Vacchiano)
• Boyer said former kicker Chandler Catanzaro texted him after the preseason opener asking to meet the following morning, where he told him he was retiring: “I don’t feel like I have anymore. I don’t want to put you guys in a tough spot.” (Vacchiano)
• Jets DL Leonard Williams returned to practice following a hip injury that kept him out a week. (Mehta)

Patriots

Patriots OT Isaiah Wynn missed his entire rookie season with a torn Achilles. New England needs Wynn to be healthy as its projected starting left tackle, as the team has had multiple backup plans fall through behind him. Wynn participated fully in practice Monday for the first time this offseason, taking a big step forward. 

“Yeah. You could say that,” Wynn said, via NBCSports’ Phil Perry. “But every day’s important. Every day I come out here whether it’s walkthroughs or whatever it’s important. Because whatever I can do to progress and help the team that’s what I’m doing.”

• Patriots first-round WR N’Keal Harry has been limited with hamstring and lower leg injuries. (Michael Giardi)
• Patriots waived QB Danny Etling. (NFLTR)
• Patriots traded a conditional seventh-round pick to the Falcons for TE Eric Saubert. (NFLTR) 
• Patriots placed CB D’Angelo Ross on injured reserve after clearing waivers.