AFC East Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Patriots

Bills

• Bills HC Sean McDermott announced that C Mitch Morse is still in the concussion protocol, but will practice on Sunday. (Joe Buscaglia)

Dolphins

Dolphins HC Brian Flores said Sunday that the starting quarterback decision could still go either way. 

“This could go either way . . . I think they’re both working hard, both have leadership, both have done a lot of good things,” Flores said, via the Miami Herald. “This will be a hard decision for the staff.”

• Regarding LB Kiko Alonso, who is reportedly available for trade, Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reports that a team source stopped short of saying Alonso definitely will be on the team. Jackson says it wouldn’t be surprising to see the Dolphins hold on to Alonso if they can’t trade him, given how productive he’s been for them. 
• Flores was asked if veteran TE Dwayne Allen is still competing to make the team: “I love Dwyane, I do. But Dwayne knows I’m all about competition. He’s worked really hard to get back. He’s played well in spurts, had a couple tough plays the other night. It’s a good room [of tight ends]. No assumptions. We have to be productive. We have to keep the most productive players.”
• Jackson notes that the Dolphins have five tight ends are competing for three or four jobs including Nick O’Leary, Mike Gesicki, Durham Smythe, Allen and Clive Walford. 

Patriots

• Mike Reiss of ESPN writes that it’s fair to wonder if Patriots first-round WR N’Keal Harry will be available for the season opener.  Harry has yet to practice in full since he left the preseason opener and “hasn’t passed the eye test in terms of looking comfortable,” according to Reiss.
• Nick Underhill of the Athletic takes a look at some risers and fallers following the Patriots’ third preseason game. 
• The risers, according to Underhill, include WR Phillip Dorsett, WR Gunner Olszewski, S Duron Harmon, LB Kyle Van Noy and OL Ted Karras.
• As for the fallers, Underhill lists WR Jakobi Meyers, OL James Ferentz, and P Jake Bailey.
• The Patriots worked out RB James Williams. (Doug Kyed)