AFC East Notes: Bills, Jets, Le’Veon Bell

Bills

There’s some pressure that comes with being a top-ten draft pick, let alone one compared to a potential future Hall of Famer in Rams DT Aaron Donald. But Bills DT Ed Oliver says he’s not feeling the pressure heading into his rookie season.

“There’s no pressure as long as I get better at something,” Oliver said via the Buffalo News’ Jason Wolf. “I’m a young guy. I don’t know left from right, as far as the NFL is concerned, so as long as I get better and take it day by day, step by step, I’ll be all right.”

Le’Veon Bell

Jets RB Le’Veon Bell was the definition of a workhorse during his time with the Steelers. But after a year away from football and getting closer to the age-30 cliff for running backs, Bell is likely to have his workload closely monitored this year. 

“I’ve always felt like I have a good feel of when a guy is either fatigued or we’re heading in a direction of maybe we’re wearing him down,” Jets HC Adam Gase said via the NY Daily News’ Manish Mehta. “I think we’ll start early to where he’ll get a certain amount of reps that we use. I mean, he is a veteran running back, he plays a position that’s very physical. You can wear a guy out with too many rushes, too many touches, too many snaps, too many practice snaps. We’ll keep an eye on that.”

Jets

• The Athletic’s Connor Hughes says Jets LB Jordan Jenkins has a firm hold on one starting spot, while LB Brandon Copeland has the early lead on the other. 
• Hughes writes that Copeland would be better suited to a backup role, but there isn’t anyone else likely to challenge him for the starting spot. Third-round LB Jachai Polite worked with the third-string during the spring. 
• Per Hughes, QB Davis Webb could supplant QB Trevor Siemian as the backup to Sam Darnold. 
• Because Siemian has $1 million guaranteed in his contract, Hughes doesn’t expect the Jets to cut him. 
• According to Hughes, Jets RB Bilal Powell is the frontrunner for the third-string running back job ahead of Elijah McGuire and Trenton Cannon. 
• Both McGuire and Cannon are in danger of being cut, particularly if RB De’Angelo Henderson can do well on special teams. 
• Hughes has undrafted rookie WR Greg Dortch making the roster as a return specialist. 
• Lachlan Edwards and Matt Darr will battle for the punter position, per Hughes.
• The Jets hired Matt Sheldon as the director of football research and strategy. Sheldon held the same role with the Dolphins from 2017-2018 and was with the Bears in a similar position for three years before that. (Rich Cimini)