AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• According to NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport, Dolphins DT Zach Sieler‘s three-year deal is worth $8.041 million and includes a $1 million signing bonus. 
• Dolphins promoted WR Antonio Callaway and DT Benito Jones to their active roster. (NFLTR)
• Dolphins signed WR Andre Patton to their practice squad. (NFLTR)
• Dolphins activated LB Kylan Johnson from the practice squad injured list.

Jets

• Per ESPN’s Rich Cimini, Jets HC Adam Gase doesn’t expect QB Sam Darnold‘s shoulder injury to keep him out the rest of the season: “I expect him to be back at some point. I don’t know when.” 
• Gase said Darnold wouldn’t be on board with being shelved for the rest of the season: “If I said that to him, I don’t know if that would go over very well. He wants to play.” (Cimini)
• He added it’s important to see Darnold with a full, healthy supporting cast for his evaluation and development: “Let’s see what we can do when we’ve got all those pieces out there.”
• Jets WR Breshad Perriman was limited Wednesday with a new shoulder injury he picked up. (Cimini)
• Gase noted the team views new OL Pat Elflein as primarily a center with some flexibility to play guard. (Connor Hughes)

Patriots

The last time the Patriots had a losing record outside of the first half of the season was all the way back in 2002. But despite the circumstances, Patriots OC Josh McDaniels says QB Cam Newton has been a shining beacon of leadership throughout the trials of 2020 for New England. 

“I think Cam’s a tremendous example of what a leader is supposed to be,” McDaniels said via the Boston Herald’s Karen Guregian. “Leadership isn’t easy. Being upfront, playing quarterback in the National Football League is certainly a challenge. There’s a lot of highs and lows that you’re going to experience. Cam, he’s never wavered from his work ethic, from his attitude, from the way he approaches practice, the effort he gives on a daily basis.”

• ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler writes if the Patriots don’t end up picking in the top ten, their best option might be trying to make it work with Newton for another season. 
• Sports Illustrated’s Albert Breer thinks a two-year, $40 million extension would make sense for both New England and Newton and allow the Patriots some flexibility as they look for a future starter in the draft. 
• Patriots WR Julian Edelman and sixth-round OL Justin Herron are both trending toward coming off injured reserve soon, per HC Bill Belichick: “Neither player has had a setback. They’ve both progressed in a positive direction…” (Reiss)