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Bill Bentley | Defensive Back

Team: Detroit Lions
Age / DOB:  (24) / 5/16/1989
Ht / Wt:  5'10' / 182
College: Louisiana-Lafayette
Contract: view contract details
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Latest News

Recent News

Lions second-year CB Bill Bentley is rehabbing from surgery on both shoulders.
Bentley had surgery on his right shoulder in November and an arthroscopic procedure on his left shoulder in January. The Detroit Free Press expects Bentley to be the Lions' nickel back this season behind Darius Slay and Chris Houston. May 15 - 8:25 PM
Source: Detroit Free Press

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Date:
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

The Lions' website tentatively projects 2012 third-round pick Bill Bentley as the team's nickel back this season.

Rookie Darius Slay is the favorite to man right corner, and Chris Houston is locked in on the left. In nickel packages, Bentley would replace a linebacker and cover opposing slot receivers. Bentley is recovering from two surgeries to repair a dislocated shoulder. He's expected to be healthy for training camp.
Source: detroitlions.com
May 5 - 12:44 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions CB Bill Bentley underwent a second surgery this offseason to repair his dislocated shoulder.

Bentley's initial surgery took place in November, and it sounds like he had another in late January or February. He still figures to be ready for 2013 training camp, barring another setback. A third-round pick last April, Bentley flashed ball-hawking ability as a rookie but didn't cover receivers at a starting-caliber level.
Source: Detroit Free Press
Feb 22 - 7:00 AM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions placed CB Bill Bentley (shoulder) on injured reserve, ending his season.

Bentley went down against the Eagles in Week 6 and it appears he'll need surgery to repair a dislocation. The Lions will move forward with Chris Houston and Jacob Lacey as their starting corners. Bentley, a third-round rookie, should be healed in plenty of time for the offseason program.
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Thu, Nov 1, 2012 11:15:00 AM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions CB Bill Bentley (shoulder) felt better on Wednesday but is still "unsure" for Monday night against the Bears.

Bentley was injured against the Eagles in Week 6, as was fellow corner Jacob Lacey (concussion). Detroit has an extra day to prepare and rest up, but this could pose an issue. With Alshon Jeffery (broken right hand) out for the Bears, Brandon Marshall is the only legitimate threat in the Chicago passing attack. The Lions won't practice until Thursday, so we should know more tomorrow.
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Wed, Oct 17, 2012 08:14:00 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions CB Bill Bentley suffered a shoulder injury in Detroit's Week 6 win over the Eagles.

Coach Jim Schwartz was predictably unforthcoming with details, saying the team would "wait and see" on Bentley's status. It's an issue because Jacob Lacey went down with a concussion against the Eagles. The Lions could be extremely shorthanded at cornerback against the Bears next Monday night.
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Mon, Oct 15, 2012 02:43:00 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions CB Bill Bentley (concussion) was cleared for contact Thursday.

It was Bentley's first concussion. "Little weird," Bentley said of sitting out Week 2. "It was just a normal concussion. They were just playing it on the safe side. They just felt it was in my best interests to sit out last week."
Source: Fox Sports Detroit
Thu, Sep 20, 2012 04:53:00 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions rookie CB Bill Bentley has been officially diagnosed with a concussion.

It's a big blow for the Lions, as Bentley started Sunday's game in place of LCB Chris Houston (ankle). Bentley will now be in a race against time to get cleared for next Sunday's game with the 49ers. If both Houston and Bentley are sidelined against San Francisco, the Lions will be left with Drayton Florence, Jacob Lacey and rookie Jonte Green as their top three corners.
Source: MLive.com
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 06:12:00 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions CB Bill Bentley left Sunday's game with a possible concussion, and is questionable to return.

Bentley is officially "questionable," but his afternoon is almost certainly through. The No. 85 pick was seeing major time on the outside with LCB Chris Houston sidelined with an ankle injury. Detroit is now rolling with Drayton Florence, Jacob Lacey and rookie Jonte Green at cornerback.
Sun, Sep 9, 2012 03:44:00 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

The Lions are expected to start rookie Bill Bentley and Jacob Lacey in Week 1 against the Rams, with Drayton Florence in the nickel.

Florence will cover the slot (Danny Amendola) on passing downs. It's got to be the weakest-looking cornerback package in the league, at least for this week, and arguably secondary as a whole with FS Louis Delmas (knee) not playing. Bentley did flash playmaking ability in preseason, but he hadn't won a starting job outright until the Lions lost LCB Chris Houston (ankle).
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Fri, Sep 7, 2012 06:17:00 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

The Lions still haven't decided who will be their starting right cornerback.

Third-round rookie Bill Bentley started the first preseason game and veteran Jacob Lacey got the nod last week. The Lions haven't named a starter for the third tuneup yet. Either way, we'd be surprised if they improved significantly on their 22nd-ranked pass defense from a year ago. Aaron Berry was penciled in as right corner, but the Lions were forced to cut him after numerous off-field issues.
Related: Jacob Lacey
Source: MLive.com
Thu, Aug 23, 2012 08:50:00 AM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Third-round CB Bill Bentley is expected to start opposite Chris Houston in the Lions' first exhibition game.

Bentley has enjoyed a "consistently good camp" lining up with the first-team defense after the release of veteran Aaron Berry. It's a good sign that the rookie is ahead of nickel candidates Jacob Lacey and Alphonso Smith, though the Lions still figure to be a plus matchup for opposing fantasy receivers.
Related: Alphonso Smith, Jacob Lacey
Source: Oakland Press
Thu, Aug 9, 2012 01:17:00 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions third-round CB Dwight Bentley is "clearly ahead" of fellow rookie CBs Chris Greenwood and Jonte Green at OTAs.

It's the way it's supposed to be, seeing as Bentley was the highest draft pick. "(Bentley) looks like a polished college player, much better than I anticipated," DC Gunther Cunningham conceded. Bentley is competing with Jacob Lacey for Lions nickel back duties. Chris Houston and Aaron Berry are starting.
Source: MLive.com
Wed, Jun 6, 2012 12:17:00 AM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions agreed to terms with third-round CB Dwight Bentley on a four-year contract.

First-rounder Riley Reiff is the lone Lions draft pick still unsigned. NFL Films guru Greg Cosell has likened Bentley's playing style to Asante Samuel's, and he could emerge as a nickel back or even a starter opposite Chris Houston as soon as his rookie season. Bentley also has a nice skill set for a slot corner.
Source: Dave Birkett on Twitter
Fri, May 11, 2012 02:37:00 PM
Bill Bentley - DB - Lions

Lions selected Louisiana-Lafayette CB Dwight "Bill" Bentley with the No. 85 overall pick in the 2012 NFL draft.

Bentley created a ton of buzz during Senior Bowl week, when he held his own against some of the nation's top-rated wide receivers. At 5-foot-10, 182, Bentley ran a 4.42 forty before the draft and caused ten career turnovers in the Sun Belt conference as a 44-game starter. With very small hands and short arms, Bentley's best NFL position is likely slot cornerback.
Fri, Apr 27, 2012 10:32:00 PM

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