Austin Jackson says he’s back to normal after two injury-hit seasons, and the Dolphins lineman revealed he had a season-ending surgery option during training camp last year before deciding to play through it and then rushing himself back.
Elsewhere around the AFC, NFL.com’s Kevin Patra picked one non-quarterback from each team who could get into the NFL MVP conversation, and his Jets choice was Garrett Wilson. Patra pointed to Geno Smith as the quarterback who could lift Wilson’s game, writing: “ Geno Smith is coming off a troubling season behind a bad offensive line in Vegas, but he represents potentially the best QB Wilson has played with in his entire career.”
Patra added more context for why Wilson made the list:
“For all the quarterback issues, Wilson put up three consecutive 1,000-yard campaigns before missing nine games last season due to injury. He’s a field-tilter who can make the circus catch against any coverage. With more weapons around him this year, perhaps he doesn’t see quite as many targets, but he’ll be in position to capitalize on the chances he does have with better QB play.”
In New England, Kayshon Boutte is in the final year of his rookie deal, but Patriots head coach Mike Vrabel said the receiver has had a strong offseason and that contract status hasn’t affected him. Vrabel said, via PatriotsWire: “I’ve got a lot of respect for Kayshon.
We went through this last offseason. He had a great offseason, he had a good training camp, and that played out during the season.
He was a large part of our success,” Vrabel said, via PatriotsWire. “His communication through this offseason with Todd [Downing] and myself, he’s a pro.
He understands what his job is, and he’s gotten off to a good start. So, I’ve got a lot of respect for him for the way that’s he’s handled these different situations, and the conversations outside of here, and the noise that doesn’t effect his performance on the field.”
In Other News...
Jeff Hafley Is Pushing A Dolphins Camp Change Fans Will Debate
Training camp is about to look a little different in Miami, where the Dolphins are leaning into a more physical approach at a time when many NFL teams have gone the other way. Jeff Hafley has made it clear he wants his players working through live tackling situations, a choice rooted in his belief that physicality and execution have to be practiced, not just talked about.
The move is the kind of camp decision that tends to spark debate because it cuts against the leagues growing caution around contact. Jordyn Brooks has already backed the idea, saying tackling is something you only improve by actually doing it, and that puts Miami in the middle of a familiar football argument between safety and readiness. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Camp Battle Could Leave One Linebacker On The Outside
The Dolphins have turned the middle of their defense into one of the more interesting camp storylines after extending Jordyn Brooks and adding Jacob Rodriguez in the draft, a combination that immediately put the spotlight on how the linebacker room will sort itself out. Brooks has already drawn praise from coach Jeff Hafley for his leadership and for the work he put in with Rodriguez during the offseason, which only underscores how much the team values the veteran as it builds around him.
Tyrel Dodson is part of that equation too, but the competition is only going to sharpen once training camp gets rolling and the staff starts evaluating who fits best next to Brooks. Miami has made clear it wants the best starting duo on the field, and with three linebackers in the mix for two prominent spots, the next few weeks should say plenty about how the depth chart is likely to shake out. [Read more 🡒]
Chris Johnson Is Already Giving Dolphins Fans A Reason To Believe
The early days of Dolphins training camp have already given the defense a little buzz, and rookie Chris Johnson is a big reason why. In a setting where full contact has not yet started, the young corner has stood out for his versatility and burst, showing enough in practice to get observers talking about how quickly he is adapting to the pro game.
Johnsons appeal is obvious because Miami is still sorting out who fits where in the secondary, and there are real jobs on the line as camp moves forward. Dante Trader and JuJu Brents have also flashed in the competition, but Johnsons ability to do a little bit of everything has made him one of the more intriguing names to watch as the Dolphins keep building toward the real evaluation period. [Read more 🡒]