The New England Patriots have suffered a massive blow on the defensive side of the ball.
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The Patriots have lost their defensive captain, Ja’Whaun Bentley, for their season due to a torn pectoral injury.
NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport shared the news via Twitter/X.
#Patriots standout LB Ja’Whaun Bentley’s injury is worse than publicly known, and sources says he’s out for the season with a torn pec.
Bentley had more than 100 tackles in each of the last three seasons and was on his way again. A brutal reality. pic.twitter.com/ysMGlNCwkR
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 16, 2024
Ja’Whaun Bentley #8 of the New England Patriots in coverage against the Atlanta Falcons during a game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on November 18, 2021 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots will lose their defensive captain, Ja’Whaun Bentley, for the season with a torn pectoral injury.
Photo by Perry Knotts/Getty Images
Bentley suffered the injury with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter of their Week 2 contest against the Seattle Seahawks. The Patriots ended up falling short on Sunday, 23-20, in a heartbreaking overtime loss.
Safety Kyle Dugger took over as the defensive signal caller, which was normally Bentley’s job. After the game, head coach Jerod Mayo spoke on the difference with Dugger on the mic.
“Communication was good, and it was Dugger. Remember, Dugger did it all last year as well, so it was not anything new for him,” Jerod Mayo said Monday. “I’ve always been a huge believer in a linebacker having the green dot, but I’ll tell you, the way Dugger played yesterday as a whole and being able to handle the communication, he definitely filled in for that role.”
Bentley stayed in for one more play before exiting the game. On Monday morning, ESPN’s Jeremey Folwer reported that the Patriots were optimistic about Bentley suiting up for their Week 3 matchup on Thursday against the New York Jets, but things have taken a turn for the worst since then.
Mayo and the rest of the organization have yet to provide confirmation on Bentley’s health moving forward. The 28-year-old exits the 2024 season with 12 tackles, 0.5 sacks, and one tackle for loss. Bentley is in his seventh year as a Patriot and is a four-time captain. He signed a two-year contract extension last offseason.
The Patriots are left with Jahlani Tavai, Raekwon McMillan, Christian Elliss, and Curtis Jacobs at linebacker on their 53-man roster.
The Patriots selected the Maryland native in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft with the No.143 overall pick. He has spent his entire career with the Patriots and has recorded 509 total tackles, 21 tackles for loss, 29 quarterback hits, 11 passes, defended four forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and two interceptions, and returned them for even yards in 83 career games and 68 starts.
Bentley attended Purdue University, where he was a standout and named an All-American in his final year. In his rookie season, he played a key role in the Patriots’ Super Bowl 53 victory over the Los Angeles Rams.
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