When Ja’Whaun Bentley tore his pectoral muscle in Week 2, the New England Patriots not only lost a player who had recorded over 100 tackles for three consecutive seasons but also a key leader. Bentley, who had served as a team captain for the past four years, is now out indefinitely. In his absence, the Patriots have named safety Kyle Dugger as his replacement.
Jerod Mayo made the announcement official on Wednesday.
“When we held the captain votes—again, this is decided by the players—it was very close,” said Mayo. “I’m happy to announce that a player who has shown tremendous growth on and off the field, Kyle Dugger, is now a captain for us.”
Mayo also mentioned he spoke with Bentley about his replacement while the linebacker rehabs. Drawing from his own experience, Mayo, who served as a captain for seven seasons, recalled dealing with injuries that cut his seasons short. Bill Belichick had similar conversations with him about being replaced until he could return. Bentley is expected to be placed on injured reserve, sidelining him for the remainder of the 2024 season, though no official move has been made in the 10 days since his injury.
Patriots Leadership Group
Dugger joins a leadership group that includes QB Jacoby Brissett, C David Andrews, DE Deatrich Wise Jr., S Jabrill Peppers, and LS Joe Cardona as the team’s captains. Mayo praised Dugger’s growth as a leader.
“He brings that toughness and physicality you want on your defense,” Mayo remarked.
“In his first few years, he was mostly focused on playing at a high level, without being involved much in communication or team development. But in recent seasons, he’s taken on more of a mentoring role, not only with younger players but also with veterans,” Mayo added.
Mayo acknowledged that different leaders have different styles. Dugger’s approach contrasts with fellow safety Jabrill Peppers, one of the more vocal leaders on the team.
“It’s a bit different,” said Mayo. “Dugger leads by how he approaches the game. But in the last year or so, he’s become more vocal, which I really appreciate. Not everyone feels comfortable with that, but he’s stepped up.”
Dugger has been acting as a team leader for the past few seasons, but in Week 4, he’ll officially wear the captain’s “C” on his chest.
