AFC Notes: Bills, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Bills

Bills’ HC Sean McDermott says that the team is much calmer in and control with QB Josh Allen finding his comfort zone on offense.

“We’re inside the ten-yard line, five-yard line there, and there was absolutely no panic,” McDermott said, via Sal Capaccio. “On the headset. From our players. On the sideline. From our players on the field. Just a lot of calm. Whether it’s Josh in this case or any other player or staff member, we’ve been there a number of times before, and that’s awesome. I think you’re seeing what we’ve seen in practice, and really going back to training camp with the way he’s approached his offseason and even before training camp, to now. A tremendous amount of growth.”

Dolphins

• Per Armando Salguero of the Miami Herald, Dolphins OC Chan Gailey says he’s happy with how first-round LT Austin Jackson and fourth-round G Solomon Kindley are playing right now: “[They] have the ability to be good players before it’s all over with.”
• The Dolphins also took OL Robert Hunt in the second round but Gailey said he “has more learning to do.” (Salguero)

Jets

• Per NFL Media’s Andrew Siciliano, Jets HC Adam Gase says he’s tuning out speculation about his job status heading into Thursday night’s game against the Broncos: “I can’t focus on that. It’s wasted energy for me.”
• Gase told reporters WR Jamison Crowder, RT George Fant and first-round LT Mekhi Becton were all limited in Tuesday’s walkthrough and are trending toward playing Thursday. (Rich Cimini)
• Jets designated WR Jeff Smith to return from injured reserve.

Patriots

Patriots G Joe Thuney is known for his versatility and got to complete the offensive line BINGO by starting at center for New England this past week after a hand injury to starter David Andrews. Not only did Thuney fill in, he was also his usual outstanding self as the Patriots racked up over 200 yards rushing in a win over the Raiders. 

“We didn’t have no issues, so it was great,” Patriots QB Cam Newton said via NBC Sports’ Nick Goss. “Smokin’ Joe is a person who is very reliable on this offensive line. The moment wasn’t too big for him to step right in to fill the shoes of [Andrews]. So I was just excited that, to have anybody be replacing somebody, you’ll want that transaction to be what it was.”