The New England Patriots may soon have one of their key defensive players back in action. Head coach Jerod Mayo shared on Wednesday that defensive tackle Christian Barmore could potentially return to practice this week or next.
“Barmore is ahead of (Cole) Strange, so there’s a chance he might practice this week,” Mayo said.
Before the season began, Barmore was diagnosed with blood clots, which kept him sidelined indefinitely. Last week, Mayo offered a brief update, simply saying, “We’re getting close,” which now seems more accurate with Barmore preparing to practice.
Heading into 2024, Barmore had just finished a career-best season and was rewarded with a four-year contract worth up to $92 million, including $41.8 million in guaranteed money.
He showcased his skills during the 2023 season, particularly in a Christmas Eve game against the Denver Broncos, where he recorded three sacks and two tackles for loss.
He ended the season with 64 tackles, 8.5 sacks, one forced fumble, and six passes defended.
While Barmore was present for the first day of training camp, he couldn’t complete practice, with the team later announcing his blood clot diagnosis.
Notably, Patriots captain David Andrews also had blood clots in his lungs in 2019, causing him to miss that season.
Despite his absence from the field, Barmore has frequently been at the team facility, engaging with teammates and showing his commitment to return as soon as possible.
Fans are watching to see if he’ll make an appearance at practice soon.
