Drake Maye publicly took responsibility for decisions that cost his team a game, and Jeff Hafley confirmed the Dolphins will start rookies Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas, NFLTradeRumors.co reports. This quick update hits the key AFC notes fans need after recent coach and player comments.
By Patriots Report Staff | Sept. 11, 2026
Quick take: AFC notes you need to know
NFLTradeRumors.co highlights three main developments: the Dolphins will open with rookies Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas in starting roles (per the Miami Herald), Jets captaincy and praise chatter involving Garrett Wilson and a secondhand Frank Reich remark about Adonai Mitchell, and Patriots quarterback Drake Maye acknowledging he lost patience and made game-costing decisions (via NFL.com).
Dolphins will start rookies Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas
Dolphins head coach Jeff Hafley told the Miami Herald that the team will open the season with rookie receivers Chris Bell and Caleb Douglas as starters alongside veteran Malik Washington. “We believe those guys deserve to start and we are going to start them,” Hafley said, per the Miami Herald.
Hafley emphasized role clarity and consistency: “Doing their job consistently within the scheme of the offense, and when the opportunity comes to make plays,” he said. The coach also noted Bell “would not be limited to start the season,” framing the decision as a team choice rather than independent verification of specific snap counts or packages.
Other Dolphins notes: Jacob Rodriguez earning a starting role
Hafley also flagged defensive rookie Jacob Rodriguez, saying the linebacker “has earned a starting spot,” according to the Miami Herald. Hafley added a detail that underscores Rodriguez’s preparation: “He was in my office this morning going over the call sheet before 7 a.m.,” the coach said.
As with the receiver news, this is a coach-declared role and should be understood as the team’s decision on how it plans to deploy personnel rather than an independent accounting of snaps.
Jets notes: Garrett Wilson, and Frank Reich on Adonai Mitchell
Garrett Wilson told reporters he isn’t upset about not being named a team captain, framing the situation as a collective leadership group rather than a slight. “I don’t know if upset is the word,” Wilson said, via PFT.
Separately, former Colts coach Frank Reich offered high praise for Adonai Mitchell in secondhand remarks cited by Zack Rosenblatt — calling him “super talented” and noting, “They did not want to part with him…” That comment is Reich’s account of others’ views and should be treated as secondhand praise rather than independent evaluation.
Patriots notebook — Drake Maye owns his errors
Patriots quarterback Drake Maye candidly blamed impatience for a string of decisions that cost a game, telling NFL.com that he “stopped being patient” and made choices that led to a turnover when he underthrew a pass to Romeo Doubs.
“I just stopped being patient. That was the big thing… I vow to myself to be better and realize it’s a long season, but at the same time, we can’t have those. It’s unacceptable,” Maye said, via NFL.com.
Maye’s remarks were frank and self-directed, describing an offensive plan that he believed was working until he tried to force a downfield play. His assessment is a player’s self-evaluation and not an independent forensic ruling on the game’s outcome.
For Patriots coaches and fans, Maye’s comments spotlight areas likely to be emphasized in practice—patience in the pocket, route anticipation, and situational decision-making. That’s a coaching and execution story for now; it does not necessarily translate into an immediate roster move.
What this means for the Patriots and AFC East context
Maye’s admission puts a spotlight on short-term quarterback decision-making and the likely practice emphasis on patience and situational reads. For Patriots fans, his comments suggest coaching and practice tweaks rather than roster panic.
Across the AFC East, the Dolphins’ choice to start young receivers is a coach-led roster move that could influence early matchups and scheming. All role announcements here are team statements; how those starters perform in Week 1 will determine whether the early-season labels stick.
What remains unclear
Coach-declared starters do not equal guaranteed snap distributions, and secondhand praise (such as Reich’s remarks about Adonai Mitchell) should be treated cautiously. Injuries, in-game adjustments, and package-specific usage will refine these initial declarations.
FAQ
What happened with Drake Maye? Maye said he “stopped being patient,” which led to at least one underthrown pass and a turnover. The quotes are sourced to NFL.com as reported by NFLTradeRumors.co.
Why does Drake Maye matter? As the Patriots’ starting quarterback, his decision-making directly affects game outcomes and practice focus. Maye’s public admission signals a coachable issue rather than confirmed long-term decline.
What happens next? Expect emphasis on situational reps in practice and monitoring in early games. Coach statements about starters (for other teams) will be tested on the field in Week 1 and beyond.
Source notes and reading list
This update summarizes reporting aggregated by NFLTradeRumors.co. Primary quotes about the Dolphins come from the Miami Herald, and the Drake Maye quotes are sourced to NFL.com, as relayed in the NFLTradeRumors.co item.
Read the original roundup on NFLTradeRumors.co: AFC Notes: Drake Maye, Garrett Wilson, Dolphins, Jets, Patriots. For the Miami Herald coverage of the Dolphins items, see the Miami Herald at miamiherald.com. For NFL.com’s Maye quotes, see nfl.com.
Reporters and readers should remember that coach-stated starting roles and secondhand accounts are team- or person-originated statements, not independent verification of long-term roles or performance.
