Bills defensive coordinator Jim Leonhard sees a real battle brewing at linebacker, and he’s not ready to shut the door on either Kaleb Elarms-Orr or Dorian Williams. Leonhard said both players have “earned the right” to be on the field, though the competition is still ongoing. He also said there’s a chance the two could rotate, but he wasn’t committing to that yet.
Leonhard likes the pace Jordan Hancock brings to the defense, saying the DB is expected to work at safety and nickel. That speed comes with a little risk, in Leonhard’s view, because it can lead to mistakes - but he believes the same aggressive style can create enough impact plays to balance things out.
He also came away encouraged by defensive tackle DeWayne Carter, pointing to Carter’s strong second preseason game as a sign he’s starting to settle in.
Another Bills defender getting praise was linebacker Joe Andressen, whose value stretches beyond the defense. Leonhard put it plainly: “He’s a really good football player. Dynamic special teams player and role number one for him.”
The Bills also locked in defensive tackle Greg Gaines on a one-year veteran salary benefit deal. The contract includes a $137,500 signing bonus, a $1.3 million base salary, and a $50,000 roster bonus.
In Miami, Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley said fourth-round linebacker Trey Moore will need ankle surgery. Hafley said he hopes Moore can make it back at some point this season, but made clear it will be a while.
Dolphins offensive coordinator Bobby Slowik had high praise for third-round receiver Chris Bell, especially after seeing what the rookie has done on the practice GPS. Slowik said Bell hit some “wild numbers” for his size and described him this way: “He’s a really big dude - he’s a really fast dude … He’s got great hands, tough to tackle. You can do a lot of things with that.”
On the Patriots side, de facto general manager Eliot Wolf addressed the decision to move Kayshon Boutte to Houston and referred to it as “The Jayden Reed “ trade.
Wolf also said there’s no update on a possible extension for cornerback Christian Gonzalez, but made his stance clear: “Want him here. He’s an elite player.”
Explaining the Boutte move, Wolf said the Patriots feel good about their receiver room and the versatility within it, especially after adding Romeo and A.J. “We feel really good about our receiver group.
We have guys that can play multiple positions. They all really complement each other well.
And obviously, when we acquired Romeo and A.J., something had to give.”
Wolf also gave an update on running back TreVeyon Henderson, saying he likely won’t practice Tuesday after suffering an ankle injury on Monday: “We’re working through that situation now. He’s probably not going to be out there at practice today, but we’ll see how that goes.”
In Other News...
Dolphins Could Pull Off A Franchise Reset Without Losing A Blue-Chip Weapon
If the Dolphins ever found themselves on the clock with the No. 1 overall pick in 2027, the conversation in Miami would get interesting in a hurry. ESPNs Jordan Reid floated a mock-draft scenario in which the Dolphins move down with Cleveland, add a haul of picks, and still come away with Ohio State wide receiver Jeremiah Smith, giving the franchise a way to reset its draft capital without giving up a blue-chip pass catcher.
The appeal of the idea is obvious from Miamis perspective: a trade like that would bring back multiple first-rounders, a fourth-round pick and a future second-rounder, while still leaving the team positioned to land one of the most intriguing offensive prospects in the class. It is only a projection at this point, not a real deal, but it underscores how a top pick could become more than just a single-player decision if Miami ever gets that opportunity. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins End Camp With Roster Battles And New Injury Questions
Miamis training camp wrapped up with an indoor session that leaned into red zone work and late-game situations, a fitting way to close a month defined as much by competition as by conditioning. Several players made their case in the final practice, with Malik Willis, Malik Washington and rookie Caleb Douglas among those who stood out, while the staff also got a look at a few players returning from injury as the team tried to sort out roles before the next phase of the preseason.
Jeff Hafley spent part of the day giving injury updates, and that remains the other big camp storyline for the Dolphins as they move from evaluation to decisions. Some players were unavailable or limited, which only adds to the roster pressure after a camp that has already featured enough on-field intrigue to make the final cut conversations more complicated than usual. [Read more 🡒]
Dolphins Suddenly Have A Linebacker Decision They Cant Ignore
The Dolphins are spending camp exploring just how flexible their defense can be, and that has put the linebacker room in an especially interesting spot. Under Jeff Hafley, Miami has been mixing and matching personnel to cover roster needs, and the group at the second level has become one of the deeper areas on the team. Jordyn Brooks and Tyrel Dodson bring established experience, while Jacob Rodriguez and Jackson Woodard have added more competition to the mix.
Woodard has drawn attention for the way he has played despite some athletic limitations, and that is part of what makes this a tougher evaluation than it might have looked a few weeks ago. Miami is not just sorting through who can help on defense, but who can also add value on special teams, and those overlapping jobs can shape the final roster picture as much as anything else. The Dolphins have options here, but the challenge now is deciding which combination gives them the most reliable return. [Read more 🡒]