AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports reports that the Dolphins were originally offering veteran S Reshad Jones to the Steelers at the start of the season with Pittsburgh being in the market for secondary help.
• However, the Steelers strongly preferred Minkah Fitzpatrick, who they believed could play a “centerfielder” type role for them and cover lots of ground while disrupting the passing game.
• At the time, the Dolphins told the Steelers Fitzpatrick was unlikely to be dealt before later mentioning that they would trade him if a first-round pick was included, According to La Canfora, multiple teams were willing to meet that price, but Miami believed Pittsburgh’s pick would end up being the highest.
• Many questioned the Steelers trading away a future first-round pick in a year in which their starting quarterback is out for the season, but Fitzpatrick has proven to be a good addition for Pittsburgh. A team source tells La Canfora of the move: “It’s changed the entire defense, really.“
• Adam Schefter reports that the Dolphins were well represented at Saturday’s game between LSU and Alabama in Tuscaloosa with GM Chris Grier and two of his scouts in attendance to watch the game in person.
• Schefter says Grier wanted to see both quarterbacks, LSU’s Joe Burrow and Alabama’s Tua Tagovailoa, along with the plethora of talent on both rosters. 

Jets

Jets ILB C.J. Mosley opened up about the injuries he’s dealt with this season in an interview with the New York Post.

“It’s different, I’ll say that,” Mosley said. “There’s nothing I can really do to get back on the field. It’s something I just have to let it heal.

“It started in the groin and it worked its way up to my lower abs, which sucked.I tried my best to finish the [Patriots] game, but I was literally playing on one leg.”

Mosley says he met with a specialist two weeks ago and discuss surgery before deciding to have platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy instead.

“[Surgery] was talked about. I did the PRP shot,” Mosley said. “The recovery time for both was like the same, so I just wanted to avoid surgery if I can. Worst-case scenario is I just do all the rehab and if it’s still bothering me I’ll get the surgery later.”

According to Mosley, he’s looking at a 6-8 week process.

“It’s a 6-8 week process. I’m still in phase one right now, which is balancing,” Mosley said. “I just started walking as part of my rehab. It’s a slow process. You have to take it day by day.”

Patriots

• Mike Reiss of ESPN mentions that there’s a good chance that the 2021 seventh-round pick the Patriots got from the Cowboys in the trade for DE Michael Bennett will improve to a sixth-round pick, given that he only needs to be on Dallas’ roster for four games
• Reiss notes that OL Isaiah Wynn is eligible to return from injured reserve on November 24 for the game against the Cowboys.