Pats Pulpit
Six months after getting released, former New England Patriots captain Ja’Whaun Bentley has found a new team. It’s the one the Patriots are going to host at Gillette Stadium in five days.
As first reported by Adam Schefter of ESPN, Bentley is joining the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice squad.
Bentley, 29, originally entered the NFL as a fifth-round draft selection by the Patriots in 2018. After ending his rookie season on injured reserve (but still earning a Super Bowl ring), the Purdue product developed into a core member of New England’s linebacker group and defense as a whole.
Over his seven seasons in New England, Bentley appeared in 83 regular season games and a pair of playoff contests with 69 total starts. A four-time captain for the organization, he registered 515 combined tackles to go with 10.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, a pair of interceptions, and a fumble recovery.
Despite his experience as well as role as a starter and defensive signal caller, Bentley was let go by the Patriots shortly after they hired Mike Vrabel as their new head coach. Officially released in late March with a failed physical designation stemming from the season-ending pectoral tear he had sustained in Week 2 of the previous season, he remained without a team throughout the summer and into the 2025 regular season.
Now, New England’s Week 3 opponent has pulled him from the open market. Bentley will be joining another former Patriots captain, Jabrill Peppers, in the Steel City.
The Patriots’ upcoming game against the Steelers is scheduled for a 1 p.m. ET kickoff on Sunday, Sept. 21.
