AFC East Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• Per Joe Schad, Dolphins QB Ryan Fitzpatrick started camp as the first-team quarterback. 
• Dolphins WR Albert Wilson will participate in individual drills to start training camp as he works his way back from a hip injury. (Armando Salguero)
• Second-year RB Kalen Ballage got the first snap in team drills ahead of RB Kenyan Drake. (Salguero)
• Dolphins LB Raekwon McMillan also did not start with the first team defense. (Salguero)
• Dolphins LT Laremy Tunsil said he’d like to finish his career in Miami: “I would love to be with one organization for the rest of my career.” (Joe Schad)
• With S T.J. McDonald sidelined to start camp, former CB Bobby McCain continued his transition to safety. (Barry Jackson)
• DE Jonathan Woodard, DT Davon Godchaux, DT Christian Wilkins and DE Charles Harris opened as the defensive line starters. 

Jets

Jets RB Le’Veon Bell made his first appearance at an NFL training camp since 2016 after long holdouts each of the past two seasons. Bell said he couldn’t be more excited to be on the field. 

“Man I couldn’t wait, I’ve been itching for a year,” Bell said via ESPN’s Dianna Russini. “Just the fact that I was back out here is a step and the next step is tomorrow. Then we put pads on things like that. I’m just going to take each and everyday one step at a time and go from there, but I feel good.”

• According to the Athletic’s Connor Hughes, Jets fifth-round LB Blake Cashman rotated in significantly with the first-team defense to start training camp. 
• Ian Rapoport reports that Williams has 25 percent of his signing bonus deferred until his second season.
• Williams missed the first Jets practice Thursday because he wanted his entire signing bonus paid out in the first year, similar to Jets 2018 No. 3 overall pick Sam Darnold.
• Jets TE Chris Herndon is trying to put his four-game suspension behind him: “I’ve just got to deal with it. It was a mistake I made and I have to deal with the consequences.” (Brian Costello)
• Jets HC Adam Gase told reporters CB Brian Poole is expected to come off the NFI list tomorrow following extra conditioning work. (Ralph Vacchiano)
• The Jets’ one-year deal with TE Ryan Griffin is for $1.125 million, including a non-guaranteed $1 million base salary and $250,000 in likely to be earned incentives. (Rich Cimini)

Patriots

Patriots HC Bill Belichick didn’t have much to say about the Texans’ pursuit of senior executive Nick Caserio for their general manager role this offseason, which ended with New England filing tampering charges against Houston. 

“That’s all water under the bridge,” Belichick said via Phil Perry of NBCSportsBoston.com.

Belichick also didn’t want to talk about Caserio’s status with the team beyond this year. Caserio’s contract ends after the 2020 draft and he’s continued to be linked to the Texans, who won’t hire a GM in 2019. 

“I’m not talking about contracts, period,” Belichick said. “Never have and don’t plan to.”

• According to Ian Rapoport, Patriots WR Julian Edelman‘s injury is a broken thumb. He initially suffered the injury three weeks ago, which should have him ready and recovered by the regular season. 
• Per the Athletic’s Nick Underhill, Patriots QB Danny Etling worked with the wide receivers to open training camp. 

The Patriots announced the following coaches in their new media guide for the 2019 season. (Greg A. Bedard)

• Safeties coach Steve Belichick
• Defensive line coach Bret Bielema
• Outside linebackers coach DeMarcus Covington
• Tight ends coach Nick Caley
• Special teams and wide receivers coach Joe Judge
• Assistant quarterbacks coach Mick Lombardi
• Inside linebackers coach Jerod Mayo
• Cornerbacks coach Mike Pellegrino
• Assistant runningbacks coach Cole Popovich