Ja'Whaun Bentley landed on Injured Reserve on Wednesday, just over a week since he went down with an injury against the Seahawks. It's hard to understate the impact of his loss. As a captain and defensive signal caller, Bentley's a big part of everything the Patriots defense does and is not easily replaceable in any facet.

"I don't think you have to change anything," said defensive coordinator DeMarcus Covington. "You just have to put a point of emphasis on making sure we have everything right, and making sure we're doing it right, so you're not changing anything... it's just making sure we continue to execute the way he was executing, and making sure we continue to communicate like he was communicating so there's no drop-off level."

Bentley's position coach knows what it's like to be on both sides. Dont'a Hightower was a similarly vital player for the Patriots defense as a player but saw injuries to both himself and his teammates strike at innopportune times. That's how life in the NFL goes, as Hightower can attest, but Bentley can still be a part of the team and make an impact despite the injury.

"Obviously he's a captain, a leader of the team, leader of the defense, leader of the linebacker room," said Hightower. "You know, [I've] been there. You hate seeing that but again, it's next man up mentality, as far as that goes. But, still being around, you know, floating around, it's always good to have a guy like that with so much knowledge, and a guy that teammates look up to, to be around."

Jahlani Tavai and Raekwon McMillan played elevated roles against the Jets in replacement of Bentley, and now, with an extended week off, the team's coaches can further dial in on the mechanics of who will fill in and where.

"You spend that extra time with those players who are going to be communicating for us, making sure we know exactly what we're looking for to do," said Covington. "So it's about us as the coaching staff, making sure we get those players in the right position, and give them the game the right way."

"It's going to be a collaborative effort," said Hightower. "You know, he meant a lot, and does a lot for our defense, as far as communication, adjustment and getting guys lined up. So, you know, that'll be part of the mix. You know, having a collaborative part of that, whether it's being in my room or somebody else's room, but, you know, we got the guys to do it."

Tavai was the first man up to wear the green dot after Bentley against the Jets. The newly extended Patriot veteran has been a developing versatile piece for the defense, now he'll have even more on his plate.

"He knows the defense," said Hightower of Tavai. "He's one of the adjusters. So he plays on the ball, he plays off the ball. He has to know both of those positions. Again, he's been around for a while. He's played multiple positions in different fronts, with different personnel. So having him with the [green] dot, you know, feel like he did a good job, as far as getting the communication, getting guys lined up."

Playing multiple roles while also holding a critical communication role is a difficult assignment even for an experienced player like Tavai.

"It's knowing different personnel," said Hightower of playing multiple second-level roles while wearing the green dot. "You'll be in different positions. You'll have different adjustments, different communication parts from guys that are depending on you from different spots. So, it's very easy to get lined up wrong once or twice so, but he's been doing a really good job, as far as getting that part out, and again, getting the communication to his teammates."

Drake Working Behind the Scenes

Drake Maye made his season debut against the Jets and the coaching staff was encouraged to get the rookie his first taste of game action. After a summer of seeing plenty of the third overall pick in training camp practice and preseason, Maye's work has moved behind the scenes where coaches are making an effort to get him extended quality reps as they prepare him to eventually take over as the team's starter.

"It's a fine line of deciding, where Jacoby has had 1,000 reps in that maybe he doesn't need this rep in practice, that we can get Drake some growth there to give him that rep," said offensive coordinator Alex Van Pelt. "If it's something that's new that's in the system that week, you know, it's a new play, then obviously we're not going to be able to get Drake that rep."

Both head coach Jerod Mayo and Van Pelt confirmed that Maye was seeing up to 30% of the team's reps with the starters during weekday practices, along with holding scout team duties with Joe Milton.

"It's finding the fine line between what we've had a ton of reps in and what we feel comfortable taking away from Jacoby to get to Drake, but both are ultimately important," said Van Pelt.

Just what do those plays behind the scenes look like and is Maye running the same things that Jacoby Brissett? Van Pelt said the players will always lead the playbook, not the other way around.

"We adapt everything to the skill set of our players," said Van Pelt. "If a guy's a run-and-shoot quarterback, he'll play in a run-and-shoot system for us, we can build it around him. If you have two great running backs, you're going to be in a system where you run the football, but the quarterback is always the one we think about first when we game plan and that'll always evolve to be around what's best suited for that quarterback, that's playing."

So far, Van Pelt has been encouraged with Maye's progress.

"It's been really good," said Van Pelt. "He's continuing to grow. I think the game experience the other night will only help him moving forward, but the plan's in place, and I think we're seeing him grow on the practice field."

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