On Monday night, there was some terrible news for the Patriots.
Ja’Whaun Bentley will miss the remainder of the 2024 NFL season due to a torn pec, according a source.
The linebacker left the game in the first quarter of the Patriots’ Sunday loss to the Seattle Seahawks after playing 10 snaps. Eventually, a shoulder problem ruled him out. The Patriots are “optimistic” about Bentley’s comeback this week and his participation in the team’s Thursday night game against the New York Jets, according to an ESPN article published Monday morning.
Rather, one of the Patriots’ finest defensive players and captains will be absent. Bentley’s injury was “worse than publicly known,” said the NFL Network.
In the Patriots’ shocking victory over the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 1, Bentley, 28, led the team with 12 total tackles. In the locker room celebration following the game, he also took over for Matthew Slater, dissecting the team’s victory.
A ruptured pectoral muscle also ended Bentley’s debut season as a fifth-round selection in 2018. He made a comeback in 2019 as a reserve linebacker and went on to become one of the Patriots’ finest defensive players. Since the 2020 NFL season, Bentley has appeared in every game at quarterback.
In the last three seasons, Bentley has finished with more than 100 total tackles. He finished the previous season with 114 tackles and 4.5 sacks. He recorded a career-high 125 tackles in 2022.
Bentley also wears a green dot on his helmet, which signified he was in contact with defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington on every play. Covington would transmit the call to Bentley via radio, allowing him to adjust plays on the field in response to what he observed from the opposition’s offense.
It was Kyle Dugger’s responsibility after Bentley left Sunday’s game.
On Monday afternoon, Patriots coach Jerod Mayo stated, “It was Dugger, and the communication was good.” “Keep in mind that Dugger completed the same tasks last year, so it wasn’t brand-new for him. Although I’ve always been a big fan of a linebacker having the green dot, I’ll tell you that Dugger more than made up for that position yesterday with his overall play and ability to handle communication.
The Patriots will rely on Jahlani Tavai to be their starting middle linebacker in Bentley’s absence. Last season, he recorded a career-high 110 tackles. Raekwon McMillan, the backup, will probably take on a bigger role as well. On Sunday, McMillan took Bentley’s place and finished with seven tackles. After missing the first two seasons due to knee issues, he rejoined the Patriots this season.
On the 53-man roster of the Patriots are linebackers Christian Ellis and Curtis Jacobs. Joe-Giles Harris and Ochaun Mathis are also members of the practice squad.
Veteran linebacker Sione Takitaki, who began the season on the physically unable to perform list, may also return to the Patriots. In Week 5, Takitaki is able to rejoin the Patriots.
The news of Bentley’s injury was first reported by the NFL Network.
Drake Maye may put the Patriots in a questionable Catch-22 predicament | Karen Guregian.
That’s Drake Maye’s position. Only one injury would separate him from starting for the Patriots as quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
Spectators wondered if this would be the hit when Brissett was forced to the ground by Seahawks defensive end Leonard Williams late in the third quarter of Sunday’s overtime loss. Brissett was seen writhing in pain on the ground before getting up and limping slowly to the Patriots bench.
It wasn’t. However, considering the battering Brissett has already taken, that day may be sooner rather than later for the rookie quarterback for the Patriots.
With the offensive line in such jeopardy, Brissett is going to face more punishment. There is also no respite for the exhausted this week. The Patriots questionable line will attempt to contain a fierce Jets front led by Will McDonald on Thursday night in New York. Next week, when the Patriots go to San Francisco to play the 49ers, it will be Nick Bosa’s turn.
Brissett dismissed any aftereffects of taking numerous hits against the Seahawks during his Monday visit on WEEI, claiming he was in good health and was just experiencing “routine post-game soreness.”
Brissett receives an 11 on a toughness rating scale of 1 to 10, where 10 is the toughest.
The offensive line’s issues are difficult to resolve. Not that the Patriots ever really had a left tackle to begin with.
You might not survive even an 11.
In the event that Brissett is hurt, Maye steps in as the backup. Thus, they may be compelled to play him because of the same offensive line that justifies not doing so. As for Maye’s NFL baptism, that’s definitely not the catch-22 you’re looking for.
“You should never allow your QB to be struck. Patriots coach Jerod Mayo stated on Monday, “We have to improve our pass-pro up front and we have to keep (Brissett) clean because even when he’s not getting hit, or any quarterback, if they’re back there and they feel people around them, it will always affect you a little bit.” Having said that, I’ve always believed that Jacoby is a fantastic competitor and leader who is also a very demanding player both physically and mentally.
“Well, we’ll try to keep him clean moving forward, but we’ll see how it goes because he has shoulder pads on like everyone else.”
Caleb Williams, a rookie in Chicago, how is life going?The first-round selection has been hammered behind the Bears line and appeared rattled during the team’s Monday night loss to the Houston Texans. He has already experienced nine layoffs.
Bryce Young, last year’s top choice, was benched because he still hasn’t been able to overcome being rushed and sacked 62 times as a rookie.
Additionally, Mac Jones’ play unraveled gradually as he played behind a poor offensive line, as witnessed by everyone in New England. He had become a puddle by the end. After enduring so much strain, he picked up a lot of unhealthy habits.
The Patriots don’t want that for Maye, who was selected with the third overall pick and is anticipated to be their starting quarterback in the future.
Maye has been receiving more starting reps in practice than usual as the Patriots have been preparing him for that future behind the scenes. Brissett and the rookie divided 70–30, according to Mayo.
“We have a growth plan for Drake and are quite deliberate. It is a component of it, Mayo stated last week. He still gets reps with the starters and performs well with the [scout] squad, but I try not to get into too much detail about the specifics of that strategy. He’s performing admirably, and his confidence is evidently growing.
Having him under center with a line that is unable to pass block is one way to break it. But unless Brissett keeps being superhuman or the Patriots figure out another strategy, that day is rapidly approaching.
It’s not a bad idea to add another veteran to the practice squad. That hasn’t happened yet, which is remarkable considering all the indications and proof of how terrible the line was prior to the season commencing.
Despite under pressure on almost half of his throw plays, Brissett has played admirably. He has performed plays with both his arms and legs. He’s also borne the cost.
It makes sense that some fans would want to see the rookie play. In light of the events of the previous two games and the injuries sustained by Brissett, it is wise to use caution when making wishes.
