The New England Patriots will kick off their preseason on August 8 against the Detroit Lions. One name to keep an eye on for the reigning Super Bowl champs in their preseason opener is Ja'Whaun Bentley.

Every season, the Patriots seem to have a player who flies under the radar and becomes a key contributor to the team. If any fans are looking for that guy, look no further than Ja'Whaun Bentley.

Last year, the Patriots took Bentley with the 143rd pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. Out of Purdue, Bentley was brought in to develop as one of New England's inside linebackers. He became more than that early on.

After an impressive training camp and preseason, Bentley became a rotational piece in the Patriots' versatile linebacker corps. Bill Belichick loves to use a multitude of linebackers with different skill sets within the defense.

Despite being a late-round draft pick, Bentley was slotted on the depth chart behind Kyle Van Noy and Dont'a Hightower. Bentley impressed with his ability to be a capable run defender, which was expected of him.

Along with his pristine tackling, Bentley displayed upside in coverage, which was a pleasant surprise. Usually, linebackers the size of Bentley are non-factors in the aerial game.

To begin his NFL career, Bentley started in two games and tallied 14 tackles, one tackle for loss, and an interception. Being able to cover as a linebacker makes Bentley valuable. The rookie linebacker also showed pass-rushing abilities with three pressures.

In Week 3 against the Lions in 2018, Bentley was entrusted by the coaching staff with defensive playcalling. That showed the strides Bentley made in just a few months with the Patriots. However, the rookie linebacker suffered a torn bicep in that game, ending his rookie season prematurely.

Despite the season-ending injury, his shortened rookie season should still be viewed as a success. Coming into this season, Bentley is trying to pick up where he left off in 2018. What could his role look like this season?

Bentley will take the field for the first time (against the Lions on Thursday) since his bicep injury in 2018. The second-year linebacker is motivated to return to being the top depth option behind Van Noy and Hightower.

Interestingly, New England brought Jamie Collins back to the team via free agency this offseason. Collins and Elandon Roberts could make the path more difficult for Bentley to return to his former role.

Yet, Bentley has not shied away from competition in his career. Therefore, it would not come as a surprise if Bentley is ahead of Collins and Roberts on the depth chart. The first preseason game will give a slight indication of where the competition stands.

In 2018, Roberts received 138 of the 217 defensive snaps in the first three games. He also was a contributor on special teams in the first three weeks.

For the time being, there doesn't seem to be a scenario in which Bentley fails to make the 53-man roster. Belichick was among the people who weren't surprised by Bentley's emergence.

When tuning into the Patriots' first preseason game, take a glimpse at Ja'Whaun Bentley, who will be sporting the number 51 jersey as Jerod Mayo once did with the franchise. When the Patriots inevitably make a deep playoff-run, Bentley could be an integral part of their defense.