Raekwon McMillan knows the feeling of ending a season on the sidelines.
The veteran linebacker has had to deal with his fair share of injuries since entering the NFL in 2017. Out of his seven possible seasons, McMillan saw four come to a premature end — including two of his first three after joining the New England Patriots as a free agent.
From that perspective, he can emphasize with teammate Ja’Whaun Bentley; the starting linebacker and four-year captain suffered a season-ending pectoral injury in Week 2 against the Seattle Seahawks. What McMillan also understands, however, is the nature of the game: it’s looking forward, and calling for the next man to step up.