Patriots Place Martellus Bennett, Nate Ebner On Injured Reserve

Martellus Bennett’s return to Gillette Stadium has been marred after just two games and 24 snaps.

Patriots Injured Reserve News

The New England Patriots announced Monday that the veteran tight end was placed on reserve with a shoulder injury. Bennett — who helped lead the Patriots to the their historic come-from-behind Super Bowl LI victory in February — had the injury when New England claimed him off waivers from the Green Bay Packers on Nov. 9. He had intended to undergo season-ending shoulder surgery when the Packers waived him, but he signed with the Patriots instead.

Bennett, 30, played through the injury in a Nov. 12 victory over the Denver Broncos, playing seven snaps and recording three catches for 38 yards. A hamstring injury for Bennett was disclosed on the team’s participation report after that game, and he attempted to play through that as well. He was on the field for 17 snaps in a Nov. 19 win over the Oakland Raiders (3 catches for 15 yards).

The tight end was then limited in practice the Wednesday before Thanksgiving, and then didn’t train the next two days and was inactive for Sunday’s victory over Miami.

“It was like one of those things, I talked to six or seven doctors about it and it could go either way,” Bennett said in his first interview after joining the Patriots. “It was one of those things I felt I should get fixed. And then after trying to get it fixed and getting waived, you just get that vengeance in your heart. It’s just like, ‘That’s how you’re going to do it? Then f— it. Let’s go ball.'”

Bennett — who has also played for the Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants and Chicago Bears — is due a $2 million roster bonus on the third day of the 2018 league year. If the Patriots don’t pick that up, however, he would become a free agent. Bennett once said the 2017 season could be his last, although he later retracted that statement.

New England also placed leading special-teams tackler Nate Ebner (knee) on injured reserve. Ebner injured his knee Sunday while being tackled on a 14-yard run on a successful fake punt. He was a second-team All-Pro selection for his special teams work lasts season.

The Patriots (9-2) next visit the Buffalo Bills on Sunday.

Caption:SAN DIEGO, CA – NOVEMBER 09: Martellus Bennett #83 of the Chicago Bears celebrates a touchdown against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on November 9, 2015 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)