Ja'Whaun

Bentley

The Steelers added Bentley to the practice squad after a visit on Tuesday. Bentley spent each of the previous seven seasons with the Patriots, starting 68-of-83 games and tallying 509 combined tackles, 10.5 sacks, and 21 tackles for loss over that time. The veteran tore his pectoral muscle last season, limiting him to two games. Bentley was released by the Pats in March and the Steelers now take a flier on him as he re-joins former teammate Jabrill Peppers in Pittsburgh.

Bentley took to social media to bid farewell to New England. Shortly after, Patriots beat writer Mike Reiss said the team is expected to release him later in the day. The seven-year vet suffered a torn pectoral muscle in Week 2 last season but announced over the weekend that he was fully cleared to return to football, per Reiss. Bentley totaled 100-plus tackles in three-straight seasons before last year’s injury while racking up 8.5 sacks and 15 tackles for loss over that span. He’ll be 29 at the start of next season. Once signed he’ll likely at least be a strong candidate to start for a new team.

Bentley was a mainstay in the Patriots’ linebacking corps, amassing more than 100 tackles in each of the previous three seasons in addition to being a defensive captain. It’s a massive blow to a Patriots team that derives its identity from the defensive side of the ball. Bentley departed from the team’s Week 2 game against the Seahawks with what was then being called a shoulder injury, although further testing revealed the torn pectoral. Bentley was playing the 2024 season on the first year of a new two-year contract that that keeps him tied to the Patriots through 2025, although the team does have an out at the end of this season $5.5 million in cap space.

The Patriots’ defensive play-caller went down early in the first quarter and was ruled out after halftime. He has been replaced by Jahlani Tavai.

Brown missed Week 11 because of the ankle issue but was also listed as out because of a personal issue. It’s unclear what that means, but it was removed from his Week 12 report. Linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley and cornerback Jonathan Jones were also listed as questionable.

The veteran missed Week 11 with what was marked as “personal/ankle” suggesting that the injured ankle is only part of the reason for his absence. His presence at practice in some capacity on Wednesday is a good sign, but his status remains murky. Also limited in practice for the Patriots on Wednesday were CB Jonathan Jones (knee), CB Myles Bryant (chest), DL Christian Barmore (knee), and LB Ja’Whaun Bentley (hamstring).

Bentley had been playing on a two-year deal that went through 2023 after his rookie contract expired in 2022. His new pact is worth “up to” $18.75 million and includes $9 million guaranteed. Close to an every-down player for Bill Belichick’s still-stout defenses, Bentley had his best professional campaign in 2022, notching a pick and three sacks while stuffing the run. Heading into his age-27 campaign, Bentley remains a sound cap investment.

NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport noted that the deal was worth “up to” $9 million. Bentley has been with the Pats since they drafted him in 2018. Bentley is a run-stopper who plays the part well. He started 16 games last year and led the team with 109 combined tackles. He also totaled five TFLs, good for second-most on the team.

The 2018 fifth-rounder has been a bigger part of the Patriots’ opt out-decimated defense this season, entering Week 15 with 539 snaps. Bentley is not an impact player, but his loss forces the Patriots to dig deeper into depth that doesn’t really exist.

Expected to be a seventh-round pick or PFA, Bentley is a surprise pick in the fifth round. 6-foot-2, 252 pounds, Bentley is a run-thumper with considerable athletic limitations. His ceiling is likely as a rotational option on early downs.