AFC Notes: Dolphins, Jets, Patriots

Dolphins

• Dolphins HC Brian Flores told reporters that they have “a lot of confidence” in rookie QB Tua Tagovailoa: “We’ve got a lot of confidence in Tua. We thought he practiced well and he was healthy enough to play…I thought he played well. We’ve got to finish off some runs, protections, some throws. We’ve got a lot of confidence in him. Hopefully we can build on this.” (Josh Tolentino)
• Tua said after the game that his thumb felt good, but explained that he wasn’t playing in sync early in the game and he has to do a better job helping his guys start faster. Tua cited the up-tempo offense for helping them out during the game. (Cameron Wolfe)

Jets

• ESPN’s Rich Cimini writes the Jets are almost certainly going to draft a quarterback this year even if they don’t have the No. 1 overall pick. 
• Jets QB Sam Darnold will have his fifth-year option come due this coming May and Cimini writes New York can’t exercise it and guarantee him $25 million based on what they’ve seen so far. A trade seems increasingly likely. 
• Cimini says there’s buzz in league circles about Eagles HC Doug Pederson being a top option for the Jets if he’s fired by Philadelphia. He adds there’s even some thought the Eagles could trade Pederson to get some compensation. Jets GM Joe Douglas worked closely with Pederson for three year with the Eagles, including the Super Bowl season in 2017. 
• Cimini called a number of experts to get their thoughts on Jets HC Adam Gase‘s claims regarding the play-calling dynamic. They weren’t convinced he and OC Dowell Loggains were actually splitting duties: “That’s a cover-your-ass answer.”

Patriots

• According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Patriots WR Julian Edelman is still a couple of weeks from being able to return from injured reserve. 
• ESPN’s Mike Reiss notes the feeling among team decision-makers is Patriots QB Cam Newton is closer to the guy who was terrific against the Texans two weeks ago rather than his dismal, 9-18 outing against the Cardinals last week. But Newton has some proving himself to do to end the season. 
• Reiss inquired about the conditional pick the Patriots traded to the Dolphins for WR Isaiah Ford, who was released this weekend. Reiss believes Miami will still receive a seventh.