Training camps around the AFC East kicked off this week with plenty of roster moves placing players on PUP/NFI and beginning to bring players back from injury.
Unfortunately, as teams have begun practicing, injuries occur, leading to missed time. Each team has off on Saturday except the Jets. Read below for the injury updates around the division.
Miami Dolphins | New York Jets | New England Patriots | Buffalo Bills
Miami Dolphins
PUP/NFI
WR Odell Beckham (Undisclosed)
DE Bradley Chubb (Left ACL)
LB Jaelan Phillips (Right Achilles)
OT Isaiah Wynn (Undisclosed)
LB Cameron Goode (Patellar Tendon)
WR Tahj Washington (Undisclosed)
LB David Long (Undisclosed)
Analysis
Many players on PUP/NFI are no surprise as they recover from their respective injuries. It’s important to note that the team has not placed a timeline on Chubb or Phillips so they can focus on the rehab rather than the goal. Internally, the medical staff has established a timeline, but putting that out there to the public puts extra pressure on the players which could lead to poor outcomes. I would expect Phillips to return sooner than Chubb at this point.
Beckham’s injury is unknown other than it is a minor one and they are trying to prevent it from getting worse. He has had a lot of injuries over his career but my initial thought is that the knee he tore the ACL in could be giving him some issues from an arthritic standpoint. There could be countless other possibilities, but this could be the most logical.
Removed from PUP/NFI
S Mark Perry
RB Salvon Ahmed
New Injuries
S Jevon Holland (Thigh Contusion)
Analysis
Holland collided with Malik Washington and flipped over during Wednesday’s practice, briefly requiring attention from the training staff. The following day, he revealed that he had a thigh contusion and that he was alright. This should not linger and should be a non-issue shortly.
New York Jets
PUP/NFI
WR Mike Williams (ACL)
FB Nick Bawden (Undisclosed)
QB Jordan Travis (Ankle Fracture/Dislocation)
Analysis
We don’t have the exact reason Bawden is not cleared, this doesn’t appear to be related to last season. Williams continues to work back from his early season ACL tear last year. I would expect he will be cleared soon once he hits the nine or ten-month mark in his recovery.
Travis’s availability may end up being a redshirt year as he recovers from his injury in college and as he transitions to the NFL.
Removed from PUP/NFI
DT Leonard Taylor (Undisclosed)
WR Tyler Harrell (Undisclosed)
Injury Updates
OL Alijah Vera-Tucker (Achilles)
Returning from his season-ending Achilles tear last year, AVT began training camp working off to the side in individual drills. The Jets are smart to ease him into 11-on-11 and return to full play.
OL Morgan Moses (Pectoral)
Moses continues to work back from surgery for a torn pectoral muscle he played through all of last season.
OT Tyron Smith (Rest)
Smith will require frequent vet rest days to keep him fresh for the season. He dealt with a ton of smaller injuries last season with the Cowboys. He is older and if the Jets want him at his best, they need to limit his reps.
New Injuries
WR Xavier Gipson (Leg)
Gipson is slated to miss the next one-to-two weeks due to a leg injury after suffering the injury on Thursday. Other than limping off, there isn’t any extra information available.
C Jake Hanson (Leg)
Hanson is slated to miss one-to-two weeks with a leg injury.
CB Brandin Echols (Rib Contusion)
New England Patriots
PUP/NFI
RB Antonio Gibson (Undisclosed)
WR Kendrick Bourne (Right ACL)
C/G Jake Andrews (Undisclosed)
G Cole Strange (Left Patellar Tendon)
RB Terrell Jennings (Undisclosed)
LB Sione Takitaki (Knee Scope)
Analysis
None of these designations are a surprise based on their injuries other than Takitaki who underwent a knee scope and should return soon.
Injury Updates
WR Javon Baker (Thumb Fracture)
Baker has been working back from a thumb fracture that kept him out for a portion of the offseason. He has been making up for lost time by spending extra time working with Drake Maye catching passes.
New Injuries
WR DeMario Douglas (Undisclosed)
Douglas has been working through something minor dating back to Thursday, deemed day-to-day.
S Marte Mapu (Undisclosed)
DT Christian Barmore (Undisclosed)
Both are unknown as to the exact injuries but Barmore was a mainstay on the injury report due to a knee injury dating back the last few seasons.
Buffalo Bills
For a full breakdown, click the link here.
Final Thoughts
Overall, minor injury concerns around the division after the first week. The Dolphins are certainly missing most of their star players as they slowly rehab back from their respective surgeries and injuries. The Jets are dealing with several injuries that will lead to at least one-to-two weeks and the Patriots are still working several guys back on the PUP/NFI. The Bills have had several minor ikroes but that has not led to any missed time.
Things are quiet from an injury perspective and for each team, the hope is that it stays that way. Continue to check back for all the latest updates and analysis of the AFC East.
Top Photo Credit: Phinsider.com
