Patriots to put Ja'Whaun Bentley on IR, tab Kyle Dugger as captain

The New England Patriots will place linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley on injured reserve Wednesday and tab safety Kyle Dugger as a defensive captain, head coach Jerod Mayo announced.

Bentley sustained a pectoral injury in the first quarter of the Patriots' 23-20 overtime loss to the Seattle Seahawks on Sept. 15. He sat out last Thursday's 24-3 loss to the New York Jets.

"I had a conversation with Bentley, obviously not being in the building every single day right now as he goes through the rehab process. But I did ask him, I said, 'To me, it's important that we still have leadership and representation for that side of the ball,'" Mayo said Wednesday.

"And when we did the vote for captains, and once again this is voted on by their peers, it was very close. It was very close. And happy to announce today a guy who has done a tremendous job for us. (He) has really showed a lot of growth for us on the field and off the field and that's Kyle Dugger."

Dugger, 28, has recorded 18 tackles, one sack and one forced fumble in three games (all starts) this season.

He has 361 tackles, 3.5 sacks, three forced fumbles and two interceptions -- both of which were returned for touchdowns -- in 64 career games (55 starts) with the Patriots.

Bentley, 28, had 12 tackles and a half-sack through the first two games of the season.

He has 509 tackles, 10.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in 83 career games (68 starts) with the Patriots.

--Field Level Media