Bennett has been productive when on the field and has 2 ½ sacks through six games, but the
role that was envisioned for him is no longer a predominant part of the defense. The Patriots were still looking to use a four-man defensive line when they acquired Bennett via a trade with the Eagles in the offseason and expected to insert him in the role vacated by Trey Flowers. Since then, the team added linebacker Jamie Collins and has become more of a 3-4 defense.
New England has only played 29 snaps, or about 8 percent of its defensive plays, with at least four defensive linemen on the field. Last year, the defense used at least four players on 49 percent of the defensive plays.