Christian Barmore Cleared for Football Activities

New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore faced a tough situation last year when he was diagnosed with a blood clot. It certainly impacted his 2024 season, yet he received encouraging news on Thursday.

Barmore has been given the green light to resume football activities, which means he could make his return to the field later this year.

He’ll participate fully in the upcoming Voluntary Organizational Team Activities (OTA). “Yeah, that’s the goal. I need to keep following the medical team, but everything is really visible,” Barmore mentioned, displaying a positive attitude.

Initially diagnosed in July, Barmore was able to get back on the field by November. However, his return was short-lived, as he could only play in four games before being placed on the non-football illness list.

“It was one of the most difficult times. I felt like I wanted to do everything on my own and come back,” he reflected. “I don’t want to be in that situation again, or anyone else, really. It was no joke. It was a difficult challenge.”

Barmore expressed feeling good and ready to compete again. “I feel confident in myself, get back to breathing. I’m really blessed,” he said, showing his determination to make a comeback.

He had a breakout year with the Patriots in 2023, achieving a career-high with 8.5 sacks and 64 tackles in 17 games. This impressive performance secured him a four-year contract extension worth up to $92 million, including $41.8 million guaranteed.

Barmore’s situation isn’t unheard of within the team; they have managed similar cases before. Veteran David Andrews dealt with a blood clot in his lungs back in 2019, but he ultimately returned to play in 2020.