AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

• Per Sal Capaccio, Bills HC Sean McDermott says TE Tyler Kroft “banged his other ankle” during practice Thursday and will be evaluated. 
• Kroft was just getting back to practice after breaking his foot during OTA’s. 

Dolphins

Dolphins CB Xavien Howard might be the only player on Miami’s roster who is truly safe after signing a five-year, $75.25 million extension this offseason that made him the NFL’s highest-paid corner. Howard so far doesn’t appear to be ready to force his way out like former teammate Minkah Fitzpatrick. However, the 26-year-old acknowledged it’s hard making the necessary sacrifices win each week for a team that doesn’t appear committed to doing everything it can to do the same. 

“We got the picks and the future looks good, but I’m worried about now. These 16 games. I’m in my prime. I do want to win now,” Howard said via ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe. “Players out here risking their bodies every day. I want to be in a position where we can succeed.”

“I want light at the end of the tunnel. I want something to look forward, for our work to get rewarded, s— like that. I do worry about that,” Howard added. “I don’t feel like my prime is being wasted, but I feel like a season is important. My main focus right now is staying healthy. I’m trying to win and be better with the people we have in the locker room. It is what it is at the end of the day. They ended up paying me. I’m here. Just gotta deal with it.”

• Dolphins WR Albert Wilson is doubtful to play against the Cowboys with a calf injury. (Salguero)

Jets

• According to Manish Mehta of the NY Daily News, the Jets have soured on CB Trumaine Johnson in part because they believe he doesn’t really love football. 
• Johnson became tagged with that reputation after missing five games with a quad injury last season that the team felt he could have pushed through and another game after being suspended for tardiness. 
• Team officials also described Johnson as having a “laissez-faire” mindset. 
• Johnson pushed back against that characterization: “Of course I love football. I’ve been doing it all my life. I’m passionate about it. It’s my life. It’s not a job to me. I love what I do.”
• Jets HC Adam Gase said the team will consider the upcoming bye in Week 4 when deciding if LB C.J. Mosley will return for Week 3 against the Patriots as he recovers from a lingering groin injury. (Mehta)

Patriots

• The Athletic’s Jeff Howe writes that the Patriots’ primary focus with first-round WR N’Keal Harry, currently on injured reserve, is making sure he comes back healthy enough not to need offseason surgery so he doesn’t fall behind like past young Patriots receivers. 
• Howe believes Patriots OL Joe Thuney will command at least $10 million per year on his next extension, from the Patriots or someone else. 
• According to Ben Volin of the Boston Globe, the Patriots have only $1.26 million in cap space following the acquisitions of WR Antonio Brown and OL Caleb Benenoch, which would make a deal for Redskins LT Trent Williams and his $9.25 million salary difficult. 
• Benenoch’s deal is worth $1.27 million and includes a $705,000 base salary, $300,000 in incentives and $18,750 for each game he’s on the active roster. (Volin)