Patriots Elevate Defender For Jets Matchup Following Key Injury

The Patriots lost a linebacker Sunday, but didn’t have to go very far to find his replacement.

New England announced Thursday that linebacker Joe Giles-Harris had been elevated to the active roster from the practice squad, making him eligible for a primetime matchup with the New York Jets.

Ja’Whaun Bentley is expected to miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering a torn pectoral muscle in Sunday’s loss to the Seattle Seahawks. New England isn’t just losing a starter at the second level as the 28-year-old also serves as its leading tackler, primary defensive communicator and the second longest-tenured captain on the team.

Kyle Dugger is expected to take over the defensive signal-calling role, but Giles-Harris’ promotion will allow for an extra depth piece entering what is expected to be a physical matchup with both Bentley and Oshane Ximines sidelined.

Giles-Harris, 27, spent the last two seasons on New England’s practice squad and played in 17 total regular-season games in his career with three starts between his stints with the Buffalo Bills and Jacksonville Jaguars. The Patriots are expected to rotate Raekwon McMillan and Christian Elliss in defensively in Bentley’s absence.