AFC East Notes: Damar Hamlin, Aaron Rodgers, Bills, Dolphins, Jets

Bills

Bills S Damar Hamlin had a strong performance in Week 3’s Monday Night game against the Jaguars, recording his first career interception. He feels fortunate to play in the game, knowing the last time he appeared on Monday Night was when he suffered a cardiac arrest in 2023.  

“Man, it was special,” Hamlin said, via the team’s YouTube. “We all know my last start on Monday Night Football and how that game went, so to be able to come all the way back from that and have a special moment like that, it’s all God right there. I’ve been giving him the praise like crazy lately, because it wasn’t easy, but I’m super thankful to my teammates for just the support and the love. That was encouraging.”

Hamlin credits his production to his desire to play well for his teammates.  

“It makes all of the emotions way easier when you just go out there and you think about, ‘I just want to make plays for my teammates,’” Hamlin said. “It makes it all simple again.”

Dolphins

• When looking at possible trade proposals for Panthers QB Bryce Young, The Athletic’s Mike Jones could see the Dolphins giving a 2025 fourth-round pick for Young. 
• Jones feels Miami may be the “most desperate” team in the league for a quarterback following Tua Tagovailoa‘s injury given there’s a big drop in talent to backup QB Skylar Thompson.
• Jones also thinks a fourth-round pick is the most Carolina could demand in a trade for Young. 
• Dolphins HC Mike McDaniel said Thompson’s rib injury is impacting his effectiveness and is more than just a pain tolerance matter, via Marcel Louis-Jacques. 
• McDaniel has been “very encouraged” by QB Tyler Huntley‘s progress in their system: “We targeted him for a reason.” (Joe Schad)
• McDaniel said second-round OT Patrick Paul is still working towards a role: “His chance to play NFL football is soon. I don’t know how soon.” (Adam Beasley)

Jets

Jets QB Aaron Rodgers was cautious after the team started experiencing success, noting that they need to prove they can handle it.

“Yeah, just like I said, everyone’s going to start you-know-what’ing us a little bit,” Rodgers said, via PFT. “I go back to this quote a lot, but Mike McCarthy said ‘our biggest struggle is going to be handling success,’ back in 2016 in Green Bay, and there’s a lot to that. I think, you know, it’s easier when you’re kind of getting kicked in the teeth to kind of come together, ‘it’s us against the world, it’s us against the big bad media whose saying how bad we are,’ you know? We can kind of come together, but can you still come together and have the same approach when everybody’s kind of starting to sing your praises a little bit. I think that’s the mark of a great team, just can you handle the success part, with the same focus, the same mentality, the same mindset, the same energy, when you’re starting to get on a little bit of a roll.”