FRANKFURT, Germany — Dolphins wide receiver Tyreek Hill has offered advice to the Miami defense in preparation for Sunday’s game against his former team: “Just find Kelce.”
Hill described Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce as “the energy of that team” who has a knack of finding space when Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes is scrambling.
“What I’ve been telling the guys to do is just find Kelce,” Hill said Thursday after practice. “If you allow Kelce to get open, he’s like the energy of that team, although Pat is like all-world. But if he finds Kelce and Kelce just catches a 2-yard pass, he just somehow finds energy in that and gets that team going.”
In his six seasons in Kansas City, Hill said, the Chiefs’ receivers were well-coached about what to do when Mahomes starts moving.
“They got a whole PowerPoint on it and everything,” said Hill, now in his second season in Miami. “It’s crazy, it’s ridiculous. It’s like, ‘When Pat goes this way, you guys need to be doing this, that, that.’”
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Jets’ Brown begins practicing
FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — New York Jets offensive tackle Duane Brown returned to practice and was a full participant Thursday, beginning the 21-day window for him to be activated from the injured reserve list.
The 38-year-old Brown has been sidelined the past five games with a hip injury and a shoulder ailment. It’s uncertain if he’ll be ready to play in the Jets’ game Monday night against the Los Angeles Chargers, but his impending return will be a big boost to an offensive line that has been hit hard by injuries.
Brown started the first two games at left tackle after having surgery in the offseason to repair a torn left rotator cuff, which he played through last season. He gradually returned to practice during training camp but acknowledged he was “a bit ambitious in my recovery time to get back.”
While speaking to reporters Wednesday, Brown said his shoulder wasn’t as strong as it could’ve been. And then he injured his hip in the second game of the season at Dallas.
Browns’ Watson practices again
CLEVELAND — Browns quarterback Deshaun Watson practiced Thursday for the second straight day and signs point to him starting Sunday against Arizona after missing most of the past month with a right shoulder injury.
Watson was the first Cleveland QB to take reps in passing drills, an indication the Browns (4-3) are preparing him to face the Cardinals (1-7).
His passes were tight, on target and thrown with similar velocity to what he displayed in Wednesday’s workout, which was indoors. Watson looked just as good outside during the 20-minute period open to media members Thursday.
Watson has started just one of four games since initially injuring his throwing shoulder against Tennessee on Sept. 24.
Bears sign Billings to extension
CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears signed defensive lineman Andrew Billings to a two-year contract extension through 2025.
The club announced the deal on Thursday. General manager Ryan Poles said in a statement the team was “excited to be able to keep Andrew in Chicago.”
Poles cited Billings’ professionalism, dependability and toughness as attributes they want in the organization.
Billings, at 6-foot-1, 311 pounds, signed with the Bears as a free agent this past March. He’s started all eight games this season with 14 tackles and a three stops behind the line of scrimmage.
BRIEFLY
TOP TEs: Travis Kelce has spent more time in the headlines this season for his personal life than his football playing. While his relationship with Taylor Swift generates most of the attention, his ability on the field remains unmatched as Kelce was voted the unanimous choice as the top tight end in the league by The Associated Press. George Kittle got four second-place votes to come in second, followed by T.J. Hockenson, Mark Andrews and Dallas Goedert. Hockenson, Andrews and Kittle were all named on all nine ballots.
TOP SAFETIES: Minkah Fitzpatrick can still make a big impact on Pittsburgh’s defense even when he isn’t generating big plays. Fitzpatrick was once again voted as the top safety in the league by The Associated Press, repeating his No. 1 spot from the preseason. Fitzpatrick was the only player named on all nine ballots, getting eight first-place and one second-place vote. Derwin James was named on eight ballots and got one first-place vote and three seconds and came in second. Justin Simmons was third, Jevon Holland, fourth and Jessie Bates, fifth.
FRANKFURT FAITHFUL: Frankfurt has always backed American football. The Frankfurt Galaxy was the only team that played in every season of the NFL’s European league, which ended in 2007 under the name NFL Europa. It had strong fan support and won four “World Bowl” titles. Now, the NFL is back in Frankfurt with two-regular season games starting Sunday when the Kansas City Chiefs face the Miami Dolphins at Deutsche Bank Park.
Pubs are preparing for an influx of traveling fans, the Chiefs have docked a yacht on the Main River and Commissioner Roger Goodell has been asked to sign the city’s “Golden Book” — an honor reserved for dignitaries.
