AFC East camps are only a few days old, but the division already has no shortage of storylines. New coaches, new quarterbacks, and a few rising defenders have given each team something to talk about before the real games even arrive.
In Buffalo, the spotlight has turned to life after Sean McDermott, and Alec Anderson summed up the change in tone with a line that fits the mood around the building: “(i)t’s kind of like having your uncle come over… …do stuff that your parents wouldn’t really allow you to do.” On the field, the early returns are encouraging for DJ Moore, who has already hauled in a pair of touchdown catches in Thursday’s practice as his chemistry with Josh Allen starts to take shape.
The Bills are also getting plenty from C.J. Gardner-Johnson, who has been everywhere in practice and bringing a swagger to the defense.
New England, meanwhile, finally has the kind of top receiver it spent so long chasing in A.J. Brown.
Brown opened camp a little slowly while getting used to Drake Maye, but Thursday brought a much better showing from the pair. The Patriots are also hearing plenty of praise for Christian Gonzalez, with some in the media calling it the best camp of his career as he continues pushing his case as one of the league’s top corners.
That’s not a bad place to be for a player who is rumored to have been offered the largest contract in Patriots’ history.
The Jets are still searching for direction, even with Garrett Wilson and Breece Hall giving the offense some real talent to work with. The biggest question remains quarterback, and the expected answer appears to be Geno Smith, who is hoping his second run with New York goes a lot better than the first.
On the other side of the ball, rookie first-round defensive end David Bailey made a loud early impression with an unofficial three-sack day on Thursday. Head coach Aaron Glenn is also under the microscope as the Jets try to figure out whether he can pull this group together after there were moments last season when it seemed like the players weren’t giving him full effort.
Miami might be the hardest team in the division to pin down right now. Much of that uncertainty centers on Malik Willis, who arrived on a sizeable contract after a 2025 stint with the Green Bay Packers that left little film to study.
What does stand out is his arm, and he’s not shy about showing it off. The Dolphins are also getting a surge from second-year defensive end Chop Robinson, whose stock keeps climbing as he makes plays all over practice.
Austin Jackson said Robinson looks like he added muscle while also getting quicker off the snap. If Miami does end up treating this as a rebuilding season, the quarterback situation could become a major decision point if the team ends up with a high first-round pick next April.
In Other News...
Bills Secondary Suddenly Has A C.J. Gardner-Johnson Concern
The Bills secondary had already been a point of interest this offseason with C.J. Gardner-Johnson joining the team on a one-year deal, bringing the kind of versatility and edge Buffalo hoped would sharpen the back end of its defense. But his recent exit from a game quickly shifted the conversation from fit and role to simple availability, as trainers and teammates surrounded him after he went down.
Gardner-Johnson was unable to continue and was carted off after an apparent issue with his right foot, leaving Buffalo with an uneasy wait on a player it had just added to help stabilize the secondary. For a defense that is still sorting out new pieces, the sight of a veteran defensive back going down like that is the sort of development the Bills can ill afford this early. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Suddenly Face A C.J. Gardner-Johnson Camp Concern
The Bills got a scare at training camp when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down during a practice drill and had to be helped off the field. It was the kind of moment that can stop a camp session in its tracks, especially when a veteran defensive back is involved, and Buffalo immediately shifted into the cautious mode teams usually reserve for injuries that could alter the shape of a roster conversation.
For now, the early signs are at least somewhat encouraging, with teammates and staff indicating Gardner-Johnson was able to walk afterward and is going through the usual medical steps. Still, the club is waiting for more clarity before saying much more, and the next update will matter for a defense that has been counting on him to settle in quickly during camp. [Read more 🡒]
Bills Secondary Just Got A Scare It Could Not Afford
Training camp already has a way of sorting out the hopeful from the fragile, and Buffalo got a reminder of that when safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson went down during 11-on-11 drills. He suffered a lower-body injury, was helped off the field, and the Bills quickly shifted from practice mode to waiting mode as he was taken in for further evaluation.
The immediate concern was hard to miss: Gardner-Johnson was favoring his right foot and not putting much weight on it before heading to the locker room. Buffalo is now waiting on medical testing to learn how serious the injury is, a situation the secondary can hardly welcome with the season work already underway. [Read more 🡒]