Raekwon McMillan stepped in for injured linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley in opposition to the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday and performed the second-most snaps of his New England Patriots tenure.
The chance will proceed to current itself after Bentley reportedly suffered a season-ending harm.
“On the finish of the day, the chance is there, so I’ve to make the most of it,” McMillan informed reporters Tuesday, per the Boston Globe’s Christopher Value.
On the finish of the day, the chance is there, so I’ve to make the most of it.
Patriots linebacker Raekwon McMillan
McMillan performed 59% of defensive snaps and completed with seven tackles and one quarterback hit. The 6-foot-2, 250-pound McMillan figures to be in line for extra taking part in time with Bentley on the shelf, as his potential to face up within the run recreation provides him an edge on early downs.
Story continues under commercial
Jahlani Tavai headlines the linebacker depth chart with McMillan however noticed a majority of time on the sting earlier than Bentley’s harm. Security/linebacker hybrid Kyle Dugger additionally may see extra time within the field ought to Patriots defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington want to get artistic.
“I really feel like for me, when my brother (Bentley) went down, I did not know what was occurring. However my preparation by no means modified,” mentioned McMillan, including it was powerful to study about Bentley’s harm. “Week 1, I did not play any snaps on protection, after which the subsequent week, performed 40-plus snaps.
“Did not know if I used to be going to play. I did not know what number of performs I used to be going to play. However after I obtained an opportunity, I took benefit of it.”
Story continues under commercial
McMillan entered the 2024 marketing campaign after he suffered a torn ACL in 2021 and torn Achilles in 2023. Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo referred to McMillan as a “tone-setter” throughout coaching camp, and lauded the 27-year-old for destroying blocks and flying round.
Changing Bentley, a defensive captain and main tackler every of the final three seasons, might be no straightforward feat for the Patriots. However a complementary effort from McMillan and others will go a great distance for New England’s protection, which ranks second in speeding yards allowed and fifth in factors allowed this season.
Sadly for the Patriots, they must fill the void with out the good thing about a full week. New England travels to face the New York Jets on Thursday evening.
