AFC Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

Dolphins

• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer mentions the Dolphins knew pretty quickly what they had in QB Josh Rosen last year and didn’t need to start him more than the handful of games he lasted. 
• Breer says Rosen’s arm talent showed up in one-on-ones, but outside of that the coaching staff thought he wasn’t processing as quickly as he needed to be, including seeing the field, getting rid of the ball or feeling the rush. Overall he played with a general lack of urgency.
• Breer adds sources with the Dolphins acknowledged Rosen’s personality was an acquired taste. Until people got to know him, Rosen could come off as arrogant and standoffish, which played into preconceived notions of him from the draft process. 
• Some notable changes to the Dolphins’ depth chart on the offensive line include Solomon Kindley starting at right guard, Austin Jackson starting at left tackle. (Josh Tolentino)
• At running back, Jordan Howard is listed as the starter, with Matt Breida behind him at the No. 2 spot.
• Returning kicks will be WR Jakeem Grant, with WR Preston Williams, CB Noah Igbinoghene, and WR Malcolm Perry behind him on the depth chart.
• One of the biggest surprises was the listing of TE Durham Smythe as the starter over TE Mike Gesicki.
• The Dolphins are still planning to use Gesicki as a “big slot receiver” on third down and in the red zone, with Smythe the starter for blocking purposes. (Joe Schad)
• Dolphins WR DeVante Parker returned to practice on Tuesday with a compression sleeve on his left hamstring. (Adam Beasley)
• Dolphins WR Preston Williams says the “game has slowed down” for him in Year 2 and his goal is to play all 16 games after going down with an ACL injury last year. (Armando Salguero)
• Williams acknowledged it usually takes a full year to feel completely healed from an ACL tear but he feels close after 10 months. He said he could be on a rep count. (Cameron Wolfe)

Jets

2019 was a well-documented journey through hell for Jets QB Sam Darnold. There was the bout with mono that derailed the team’s start of the season, other injuries to his thumb, toe and that knocked out key members of his supporting cast. He even saw ghosts, referencing a hot mic moment from a blowout loss to the Patriots on Monday Night Football that went viral. Even if the Jets don’t find a lot of success in 2020, getting Darnold’s development back on track is the most important thing for the team. 

“Last year we felt we could’ve been so much better than what we were,” Jets HC Adam Gase said via SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano. “I get it, the mono threw things off for us. Then we were battling changes. It never was smooth. We’re excited to get going. We’re excited to get this group heading in the right direction. I guess my expectations and his are always going to be extremely high. Our expectations are probably always going to be a lot higher than everyone else’s.”

• Jets second-round WR Denzel Mims (hamstring) and WR Breshad Perriman (knee) returned to practice in full on Wednesday. (Connor Hughes)

Patriots

Patriots’ RB Sony Michel says that his injured foot is healing well as the team eases him back into their plans for Week 1.

“I would just say I am feeling a day better. Every day is a work in progress. Every day is a day to get better for me,” Michel said, via Mike Reiss of ESPN. “Beginning of the season, you’re never going to feel like you’re in the best shape. So for me, I am just going to keep trying to build from there. I wouldn’t say caught up because I can’t really make up for those days that I lost that those guys got, but I would say I am in a good position where I am able to get better. I am feeling good. I like where I’m at and I am headed in the right direction.”

• Ben Volin of the Boston Globe notes the Patriots were still on the hook for $2 million for K Stephen Gostkowski, but his deal with the Titans should relieve New England of any responsibility because of the offsets in his former contract. 
• Patriots HC Bill Belichick said rookie LBs Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings have “a good degree of flexibility” to play both off the ball and on the edge. (Doug Kyed)
• The Patriots hosted four special teams players for workouts on Tuesday, including LS Andrew DePaola, LS Dan Godsil, P Austin Rehkow, P Johnny Townsend. (Aaron Wilson)