AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• Per Armando Salguero, Dolphins HC Brian Flores said QB Tua Tagovailoa is “fully healthy” and would practice in full with the team Monday. 
• Flores called the decision to release S Adrian Colbert “tough” but did not elaborate further. (Salguero)

Jets

Last year with the Bills, RB Frank Gore found himself being phased out of the offense as the year went on and third-round rookie Devin Singletary continued to impress. Buffalo moved on completely this offseason from Gore but the 37-year-old believes he still has a lot left to give and would have been able to prove it with the opportunity last year. 

“I feel like if they would’ve let me play, I would’ve had over 1,000,” Gore said via ESPN’s Rich Cimini. “I jumped out there. I was having a great year. Young Singletary, a young back, will be very talented. He’ll do great thing as long as he keeps working — and I know he will. I understand they drafted him and it’s a business. They had to get him ready. But I felt like the games I did play, I did some good things to show people I could play.”

• Per SNY’s Ralph Vacchiano, Jets WR Breshad Perriman is looking to build off of his hot start to finish last year after New York gave him $6.5 million this offseason to be their top outside receiver: “Last season was last season. It was a great run. But now I’m trying to tap into a whole other level.”
• Jets LB James Burgess suffered a non-contact, lower-back injury in practice Monday. (Brian Costello)

Patriots

For years, Patriots QB Brian Hoyer worked behind Tom Brady in New England as the clear, defined backup. Entering 2020, Hoyer ostensibly had a shot to start over 2019 fourth-round QB Jarrett Stidham, but the addition of QB Cam Newton up-ended the competition. Hoyer said that won’t change his approach, though. 

“Look, I think coach Belichick says every position is a competition no matter what it is every year,” Hoyer said on WEEI via Pro Football Talk. “So I think for me, I know going in that I am always going to compete like I am trying to be the starting quarterback. I did that when Tom was here. I know that was never going to happen because of who he was, but that pushed me to be better. Adding another great quarterback like Cam to the room, it only makes us that much more competitive and that is going to bring out the best in all of us.”

• The Athletic’s Jeff Howe notes both Patriots 2019 draft picks WR N’Keal Harry and RB Damien Harris are poised to play much larger roles in 2020 than as rookies. 
• Patriots 2019 third-round OT Yodny Cajuste also will compete for a starting role at right tackle after missing his entire rookie year with a quad injury. His main competition is G Jermaine Eluemunor who has been taking reps at tackle. 
• Howe thinks the Patriots could look to add depth at tackle as their best backup is G Joe Thuney. 
• Howe notes Patriots WRs Jakobi Meyers and Gunner Olszewski will face stiff competition for the final roster from speedy newcomers Damiere Byrd and UDFA Jeff Thomas.