Patriots lose defensive captain Ja’Whaun Bentley for season
Patriots linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley suffered a torn pec in Sunday’s loss to the Seahawks and is out for the season, a source confirmed.
The news was first reported by NFL Media’s Ian Rapoport.
Related Articles
Patriots get bad news in first injury report of the week ahead of Jets game
Patriots adding two rookie defensive backs in roster reshuffling
Patriots rookie could be thrust into starting role Thursday night
Sacks don’t tell full story behind Patriots’ offensive line woes
DeMario Douglas frustrated with lack of targets in Patriots’ loss to Seahawks
The defensive captain appeared to suffer the injury with 3:35 remaining in the first quarter of the 23-20 loss to the Seahawks. He stayed in for one more play before exiting the game.
Bentley, 28, finishes the season with 12 tackles, a half-sack and one tackle for loss. The four-time captain is in his seventh season with the Patriots and 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. They also have Joe Giles-Harris on the practice squad and Sione Takitaki, who’s eligible to return after Week 4, on the PUP list.
It’s another difficult loss for a Patriots defense that’s already without defensive tackle Christian Barmore (blood clots). The Patriots traded away outside linebacker Matthew Judon before the season.
Bentley was selected by the Patriots out of Purdue in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. He has 509 tackles, 10.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, 29 QB hits, two interceptions and four forced fumbles in 83 career games with 68 starts.