AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

Dolphinsโ€™ RB Myles Gaskin says that QB Tua Tagovailoa is standing out as a more vocal leader in training camp, calling him โ€œmore complexโ€ and โ€œvocalized.โ€

โ€œA lot of people are given that [leadership] right to be a quarterback,โ€ Gaskin said, via Jeremy Fowler of ESPN. โ€œBut he has earned it. โ€ฆ Iโ€™m impressed with how he has stepped into a leadership role with no problem.โ€

Gaskin is trying to improve on his previous campaigns and is hoping to be more of a leader in Miami this season.

โ€œIโ€™m just trying to bring more every year, be more of a leader,โ€ said Gaskin. โ€œNot trying to think about the role as much as just getting 1% better every day.โ€

The Dolphins are still under the impression that Robert Hunt will develop into a Pro Bowl guard, which is why they moved him from tackle and drafted Notre Dameโ€™s Liam Eichenberg in the second round.

โ€œI want to play,โ€ Hunt said. โ€œIโ€™ll do whatever the team needs me to do and win. It could be long snapper for all I care.โ€ 

Jets

Jets CB Blessuan Austin is playing with a chip on his shoulder entering training camp, with one goal in mind, his next contract.

โ€œI come to camp looking forward to getting my next contract,โ€ Austin said, via Ryan Dunleavy of the NY Post. โ€œI donโ€™t worry about whoโ€™s starting or none of that. I think Iโ€™m the real deal. Thereโ€™s no secret to that.โ€

Austin refers to what heโ€™s put on tape thus far as his argument for being considered one of the leagueโ€™s premier corners.

โ€œClick the tape, press play,โ€ Austin said. โ€œOf course I made mistakes, but thereโ€™s also a lot of plays I made on that field that other corners in this league are not making. Iโ€™m looking forward to extending my time here on the Jets by making a lot of plays.โ€

Austin believes the Jets front office saw enough between him and second-year CB Bryce Hall to warrant diverting resources to the receiver group, instead of making a splash in free agency to address the secondary.

โ€œThe front office and the coaching staff does a great job of communicating to us where their head is at,โ€ Austin said. โ€œA lot of people forget me and Bryce were highly rated dudes coming out of college. We just fell short to injury. Thereโ€™s a reason why they didnโ€™t bring a veteran cornerback in here. Not to knock any out there, but they see something in us.โ€

  • Doug Kyed reports that Jetsโ€™ rookie WR Elijah Moore (quad) avoided serious injury during practice on Thursday.

Patriots

  • Doug Kyed reports that there is a legitimate quarterback competition in New England between QB Cam Newton and rookie QB Mac Jones, who has taken significant reps with the first-team offense.
  • Kyed believes that WR Jakobi Meyers continues to improve and could wind up being the No. 1 receiver for the Patriots.
  • He adds that WR Kristian Wilkerson is another player to watch as he has been heavily targeted in training camp and has received first-team reps.

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