Rex Burkhead; Ja'Whaun Bentley. (Gregory Shamus/Getty Images; Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Patriots placed running back Rex Burkhead and linebacker Ja'Whaun Bentley on Injured Reserve after both were hurt in Detroit last Sunday. They're sidelined at least eight weeks--maybe the rest of the year.
Adam Kaufman spoke with Boston Globe football writer Ben Volin, who said the Pats couldn't count on Burkhead anyhow.
"It's strange--when he's on the field, he's incredibly productive and a versatile player, but he just has not been able to stay healthy," Volin said. "He's been made out of glass the last few years. Last year, he only played 200 snaps the entire season. This year, he seemed to leave every game with an announced injury. And now, a neck injury has put him on IR. It's a tough loss because of all the versatility he brings. They don't have great depth at running back now--they're gonna have to rely very heavily on Sony Michel and James White, and injuries usually beget injuries, so we'll see if they can stay healthy now that they have an increased workload."
Ben, how devastating's Bentley's loss?
"Bentley is tough just because he has the most speed at linebacker, and he was being used as their coverage linebacker," Volin said. "And now the guys they have left--Van Noy, Dont'a Hightower, Elandon Roberts--pass coverage is not really their specialty, so I'm very intrigued to see how this affects the defense. Bentley wasn't a perfect player--he was one of those guys who had some issues with his assignments and not being in the right place--but you can't teach speed and athleticism, and he had it in droves."
Pats signed Kenjon Barner and John Simon to replace them.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman (@AdamMKaufman) reports