As the Bills and Patriots prepare for tough road tests against AFC West teams, and the Dolphins get ready to host the Ravens in a crucial game for potential Wild Card positioning, let’s check out a few Friday items out of the AFC East….
- Having placed wideout Aaron Dobson on their injured reserve list, the Patriots are currently carrying just 52 players, leaving an open spot on their active roster. While we wait to see what they do with that opening, Mike Reiss of ESPNBoston.com examines the team’s practice squad players most likely to receive a promotion, with receiver Josh Boyce and linebacker Deontae Skinner topping the list.
- The Dolphins brought in former Portland State tackle Mitchell Van Dyk for a tryout this week, according to Aaron Wilson of the Baltimore Sun (via Twitter). A seventh-round pick this past May, Van Dyk was cut by the Rams at the end of the preseason.
- Lindsay H. Jones of USA Today takes a look at the contending teams getting by without highly-paid, big-name running backs, focusing on the Patriots and their recent addition of LeGarrette Blount.
- Dolphins defensive end Olivier Vernon and Jets defensive tackle Damon Harrison are among the league’s best bargains in 2014, according to Jason Fitzgerald of The Sporting News.
- Last week, we pointed to several teams that will face offseason decisions on quarterbacks, or will look to add new signal-callers, and Field Yates of ESPN.com has made a similar list in an Insider-only piece. The Jets and Bills are among the clubs that show up in both pieces.