AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

It’s unclear when exactly the Dolphins will be able to see first-round QB Tua Tagovailoa on the field. Despite dislocating his hip last fall, the injury doesn’t appear to be the biggest impediment as the NFL works out what training camp will look like in a unique 2020 season. When the NFL gives the all-clear, Tagovailoa says he’ll be ready. 

“I’d say I’m ready to go,” Tagovailoa said via USA Today’s Chris Bumbaca. “It’s kind of those things where you start getting the itch to get back out on the field, to be able to compete. It’s going to be a new setting, so that’s what’s even more exciting.”

• ESPN’s Cameron Wolfe projects the Dolphins will keep all three quarterbacks but notes Miami would likely part with third-string QB Josh Rosen for the right offer. 
• Wolfe doesn’t think the Dolphins will keep FB Chandler Cox but that should open up another tailback position for seventh-round QB-convert Malcolm Perry.
• Wolfe notes there projects to be a spirited battle for the last receiver spot between Gary Jennings, Isaiah Ford, Mack Hollins and Ricardo Louis. He gives the initial edge to Jennings. 
• Because new OC Chan Gailey doesn’t heavily rely on the tight end in his offense, Wolfe thinks Miami could keep just two and cut third-string TE Michael Roberts. 
• Wolfe mentions Dolphins DE Avery Moss as a player firmly on the bubble and in danger of losing his roster spot. There’s also an intense battle at linebacker, with players like Sam Eguavoen and Andrew Van Ginkel on the bubble. 
• At cornerback, Wolfe believes Jamal Perry has the edge over Ryan Lewis and Ken Webster for the final spot. Miami also likes to cross-train defensive backs at safety and Wolfe has them keeping five, with Adrian Colbert edging out Kavon Frazier and Stephen Parker. 

Jets

• The Fritz-Pollard Alliance released a statement calling for consequences regarding allegations of racist and sexist behavior from Jets owner Woody Johnson: “The Fritz Pollard Alliance is deeply troubled by allegations of insensitive remarks about race and gender made by New York Jets Owner Woody Johnson while serving abroad as a U.S. Ambassador. Allegations of this nature, if true, are damaging to the social fabric of our country and cannot be tolerated. While only allegations at this point, they are serious. We call on the NFL to carefully monitor this situation and, if the allegations have merit, to take appropriate action and work toward rooting out such sentiments from the NFL community.”
• CBS Sports Jason La Canfora writes other teams have been monitoring the situation between the Jets and S Jamal Adams and view the situation with Johnson, who Adams tweeted his displeasure with, as an opportunity to potentially pry Adams away for cheap. 
• The thinking is the Jets are in crisis management mode and could be willing to unload Adams and his mouth, while Adams might be willing to wait on his contract demands in exchange for a team getting him out of New York. 
• However, La Canfora personally doesn’t see either Adams or the Jets biting on that. 
• Jets 2019 first-round DL Quinnen Williams‘ hearing for his March arrest regarding an unlicensed gun remains undetermined. It was originally scheduled for Thursday, July 23. (Manish Mehta)

Patriots

• ESPN’s Mike Reiss says the biggest question in Patriots camp is obviously the quarterback battle between Cam Newton, Jarrett Stidham and Brian Hoyer. 
• The other major transition New England is making this year is at kicker, moving on from longtime veteran stalwart Stephen Gostkowski to fifth-round K Justin Rohrwasser. 
• Reiss adds it’ll be interesting to monitor if RB Sony Michel starts camp on the PUP list after having offseason foot surgery. 
• Reiss notes the Patriots return most of last year’s No. 1 defense, except at linebacker, so they’ll be reliant on 2019 third-round LB Chase Winovich and this year’s rookies like Josh Uche and Anfernee Jennings to pick up the slack. 
• New England is also banking on third-round rookie TEs Devin Asiasi and Dalton Keene to improve that unit drastically.