Losing Ja'Whaun Bentley with a torn pectoral isn't the end of the world for the Patriots — they survived the losses of Matthew Judon and Christian Gonzalez for most of last year — but it is stiff right to the jaw.
Bentley appeared to get hurt at the 3:35 mark of the first quarter of Sunday's loss to Seattle while engaged with Seahawks guard Anthony Bradford. He could be seen flexing his left arm after the exchange. Bentley remained in the game for one more play before exiting. I saw him struggle to put on his shirt in a crowded locker room, and an MRI on Monday revealed the damage.
The team hasn't officially commented on the injury, but it is expected to put the remainder of his season at risk. He would join Christian Barmore on the sideline, another blow to a defense that traded away Judon before the start of the season.
BSJ ANALYSIS
Bentley is one of the most well-respected players in that locker room. The linebacker has been voted captain by teammates four times in his seven seasons in the league, including this one, and assumed the post-game breakdown that was long handled by Matthew Slater, a surefire team Hall of Famer (and maybe the one in Canton, as well).
In his absence, safety Kyle Dugger wore the green dot. Jerod Mayo praised the veteran safety for his work in that regard.
"Remember, Dugger did it all last year as well, so it was not anything new for him," Mayo said. "I've always been a huge believer in a linebacker having the green dot, but I'll tell you, the way Dugger played (Sunday) as a whole and being able to handle the communication, he definitely filled in for that role."
Bentley's running mate, Jahlani Tavai, will have more on his plate, but after a strong showing in week one, he struggled on Sunday. Tavai played just 37 snaps in the opener, but that number nearly doubled against the Seahawks, with 69. That's the most snaps he's logged in a single game since week 8 at Miami last year. Tavai has expressed a desire to prove he's an every-down player. Unfortunate, how this opportunity came about, but it's here now, and if this defense is to play to the standard they always talk about, Tavai will need to be in the middle of it.
Raekwon McMillan stepped in alongside Tavai - he's long been a favorite of Mayo and DeMarcus Covington - and special teamer Christian Elliss also got some snaps when McMillan was given a series off. Sione Takitaki is currently on PUP but is eligible to begin practicing as early as week four. Takitaki has been seen walking through the locker room and as an observer on the practice field, but his timetable remains unknown.