FOXBORO -- No player wants his playing time to come at the expense of an injury, and Patriots linebacker Raekwon McMillan is no different.
But if there's anyone in the league who deserves a break, it's McMillan, who's missed two entire seasons to torn ACLs and one entire season to a torn Achilles.
McMillan is the top candidate to fill in for Ja'Whaun Bentley, who suffered a season-ending biceps tear in the Patriots' Week 2 overtime loss to the Seahawks.
"It's been a long time coming, but I'm ready for the opportunity," McMillan told the Herald. "My coaches trust me, so going to go out there and make them proud."
Bentley's injury will also likely cause linebacker Jahlani Tavai to take on a bigger role as an every-down player. The team currently has Christian Elliss and rookie waiver-wire pickup Curtis Jacobs on their 53-man roster at linebacker. Veteran Sione Takitaki, who signed as a free agent this spring, is currently on the PUP list and is eligible to return after Week 4.
McMillan praised Bentley for his emotional, vocal and physical leadership.
"This whole locker room, everybody in here goes by his voice. It's tough for us as a team, but we gotta pick up and keep going," McMillan said. "Everything that he's instilled into us as a team, we gotta pick up the pieces and keep going, keep pushing."
The eighth-year veteran plans to channel Bentley in his starting role.
"I can just go out there with the same mentality that he has: be physical in the run game, play the passing lanes right and just be a presence in the middle of the defense," McMillan said.
McMillan recorded seven tackles and one QB hit while replacing Bentley on Sunday.
He could barely put into words what it means to him every time he steps onto a football field. The 2017 second-round pick tore his ACL as a rookie with the Dolphins during the preseason. He joined the Patriots in 2021 and tore his ACL during training camp. Then he tore his Achilles last spring during organized team activities.
"You don't even understand. There were times when I didn't know if I was going to be able to lace my cleats up again," McMillan said. "Every time I step out on the field, I thank god for another opportunity to go out there and do what I love, something I'm passionate about. There are a lot of people in this world who don't get to do things they're passionate about on a daily basis, and I get to do it every day here in New England. It's a blessing, and I don't take it for granted at all."
He also made sure to credit his former position coach, Mayo, for the encouragement he's received throughout his time with the Patriots.
"I'm not gonna lie man, Coach Mayo, since I got here in 2021, he's been instilling in me that I'm the guy," McMillan said. "That even when I wasn't, he's still telling me and giving me that confidence that I can do it. He's never talked down on me or anything like that. He's always spoke life into me. In a situation like this, those conversations (pay) dividends."