Patriots Name Reliable Pass-Catcher As New Team Captain

The Patriots announced a new team captain Friday.

Head coach Jerod Mayo opened his Friday news conference by announcing that Caedan Wallace and David Andrews would be placed on injured reserve. That opened up a captain vacancy, and Hunter Henry will fill that spot for New England.

“He’s done a tremendous job since he’s been here, both on the field and off the field,” Mayo told reporters, per a team-provided video. “Obviously, his production is up. The quarterbacks have a lot of trust in him. The players offensively, defensively and special teams look up to a guy like that. Hunter Henry will be our captain.”

Henry led the Patriots with 14 receptions and 148 receiving yards through four weeks. The tight end joins Jacoby Brissett, Deatrich Wise Jr., Jabrill Peppers and Joe Cardona as the other captains of the Patriots. Kyle Dugger replaced Ja’Whaun Bentley as team captain after the lineup was placed on injured reserve. However, Dugger also suffered an injury in Week 4, and his status is up in the air.

New England will need Henry’s leadership amid speculation of a “mutiny” in the locker room, which could be alleviated with a win over the Miami Dolphins this Sunday.