DAVIE, Fla. — Miami Dolphins Coach Adam Gase says he won’t rest his starters in Sunday’s regular-season finale against New England, even though his team has already clinched a playoff berth.
The Dolphins are locked into a road game as a wild-card team, while the Patriots are battling for home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs. Miami (10-5) will play at Pittsburgh or Houston in the opening round of the playoffs.
Against New England, Miami will likely go again with backup quarterback Matt Moore. No. 1 QB Ryan Tannehill is not expected to play against the Patriots while recovering from a strained left knee.
Jay Ajayi was “a little banged-up” but is expected to be fine after rushing for 206 yards in Saturday’s overtime victory at Buffalo , Gase said Monday.
JETS: Bryce Petty has been placed on injured reserve, ending the second-year quarterback’s short stint as the starting quarterback.
Petty tore the labrum in his left shoulder Saturday against New England while tackling Malcolm Butler following a second-quarter turnover. He went on IR on Monday, and the Jets claimed outside linebacker Corey Lemonier off waivers from Detroit.
VIKINGS: Coach Mike Zimmer said he doesn’t believe his defensive backs made their own plan for covering Green Bay wide receiver Jordy Nelson.
Xavier Rhodes repeatedly called the conflict a “miscommunication.” Terence Newman said it was a non-issue.
Postgame commentary on Saturday by Rhodes suggested players defied Zimmer’s orders to put the Pro Bowl cornerback on Nelson, rather than keep Rhodes and Newman in their places regardless of the formation shown by the Packers.
TITANS: Quarterback Marcus Mariota will have surgery Wednesday for his broken right leg, and Coach Mike Mularkey says the recovery process will take 4 to 5 months.
Mularkey said that Mariota will have a plate inserted over the break by Dr. Bob Anderson in Charlotte, North Carolina.
TEXANS: Houston is sticking with Tom Savage at quarterback on Sunday against Tennessee.
Savage made his first career start in place of Brock Osweiler on Saturday night in a 12-10 win over the Bengals that allowed the Texans to clinch the AFC South.
Osweiler was benched in the second quarter two weeks ago against Jacksonville and Savage took over to help the Texans rally for a 21-20 victory.
SEAHAWKS: Wide receiver Tyler Lockett had surgery after breaking two bones in his lower right leg in Saturday’s loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Seattle Coach Pete Carroll said during his weekly radio show that Lockett underwent surgery late Saturday night for a broken tibia and fibula in his right leg.
BENGALS: Cincinnati placed tight end Tyler Eifert on injured reserve with a back injury.
Eifert missed the first six games of the season because of an ankle injury from last season’s Pro Bowl. He finished with 23 receptions for 394 yards and five touchdowns this season.
49ERS: Running back Carlos Hyde has a torn MCL in his left knee and will miss the season finale against Seattle.
Hyde got hurt in Saturday’s win over the Los Angeles Rams when he was hit by cornerback E.J. Gaines. Coach Chip Kelly said Hyde will not need surgery and will be available for the offseason program.
PANTHERS: There are times Ron Rivera watches Cam Newton throw a football and thinks he can be one of the best quarterbacks of all time. And there are other times the Panthers’ coach studies Newton’s release and says to himself, “Aw c’mon, you have to have better footwork.”
Rivera would like to see Newton improve the consistency of his throwing mechanics as the Panthers look toward the future.
Newton has completed a career-low 53.5 percent of his passes this season and has failed to complete 50 percent of his passes in five of the last six games while battling soreness in his right throwing shoulder.
JAGUARS: Jacksonville placed running back T.J. Yeldon on injured reserve before its season finale.
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