When Dont’a Hightower decided to opt out of the 2020 season, the New England Patriots were left understaffed at the linebacker position. Ja’Whaun Bentley was designated as Hightower’s replacement, but ended up playing only 59.8 percent of the team’s defensive snaps while failing to properly replace the future Patriots Hall of Famer.
New England also used practice squad call-up Terez Hall as well as rookies Anfernee Jennings and Josh Uche, but they all had their fair share of ups and downs as well — so much so that the team actually turned to its defensive backfield to bolster the depth in the box: safeties Adrian Phillips and Kyle Dugger were regularly used in the “star” linebacker position, but their size was an issue.