The move comes as center David Andrews heads to injured reserve.
The New England Patriots enter October with a new captain on the offensive side of the ball.
Veteran tight end Hunter Henry has been promoted, head coach Jerod Mayo announced during his Friday press conference.
“Hunter Henry will now be a captain for this team,” Mayo told reporters. “Look, he’s done a tremendous job since he’s been here, both on the field and off the field. Obviously, his production is up. The quarterbacks have a lot of trust in him, and also the players offensively, defensively and on the special teams look up to a guy like that who has played a lot of ball in this league. So, Hunter Henry will be a captain.”
New England will officially place center, captain and franchise All-Decade selection David Andrews on injured reserve Friday due to season-ending shoulder surgery. Rookie offensive tackle Caedan Wallace, who has also remained sidelined from practice this week, will join him there due to an ankle injury.
In turn, Henry marks the second addition among the captains after the team previously lost linebacker Ja’Whaun Bentley to a torn pectoral. The rest of the room includes quarterback Jacoby Brissett, defensive end Deatrich Wise Jr., safeties Jabrill Peppers and Kyle Dugger as well as long snapper Joe Cardona.
Since landing in Foxborough as an unrestricted free agent in 2021, Henry has appeared in 52 games while making 38 starts. He had been voted a captain by teammates last season and signed a three-year contract extension in March. The 29-year-old currently leads the offense in receptions and receiving yards. And altogether, his tenure includes 147 catches for 1,679 yards and 17 touchdowns.
The former All-American and John Mackey Award winner out of Arkansas entered the NFL with the Los Angeles Chargers in the second round of the 2016 draft.
The Miami Dolphins visit Gillette Stadium on Sunday. Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET.