Patriots DT Christian Barmore could return this week
The New England Patriots crucial win over the Arizona Cardinals on Monday Night Football featured a smothering defense that kept Colt McCoy under duress all evening. The defense totaled six sacks, an interception, and a scoop-and-score touchdown by Raekwon McMillan in the third quarter to take a 20-13 lead.
Matthew Judon’s name resurfaced in the sack column of the stat sheet after a two-week absence, as he notched a sack and a half to tie Nick Bosa for the league lead. Josh Uche stayed red-hot with three sacks on the night, putting him at six in the last three games alone. Now, the front seven may be getting even more good news.
Matt Judon on Josh Uche: “I told y’all I wasn’t our best pass rusher. And our best pass rusher’s emerging. … Folks are gonna have to watch out.” pic.twitter.com/RkM4xJQ5Sz
— Andrew Callahan (@_AndrewCallahan) December 13, 2022
Christian Barmore was spotted at practice on Wednesday after being designated to return from injured reserve. The Patriots have 21 days to either activate Barmore to the active roster, or he must sit out the rest of the way. With Wednesday’s news, it looks likely that Barmore’s return is imminent.
The second-year defensive tackle established himself with a tremendous rookie season and was expected to ascend further as an anchor up front on a very strong Patriots defense. Unfortunately, a knee injury has kept him sidelined since the Week 6 game against the Cleveland Browns. Through six games, Barmore has a pedestrian 15 tackles, one sack, and three quarterback hits. But let’s not forget what he did last year.
#FFIDP - Most total pressures (w/pressure rate) in a season by a rookie interior defensive lineman since 2006, per @PFF:
— Jon Macri (@PFF_Macri) March 23, 2022
1. 2015, Leonard Williams - 52 (10.9%)
⭐️2. 2021, Christian Barmore - 48 (12.6%)⭐️
2. 2016, DeForest Buckner - 48 (9.7%)
4. 2014, Aaron Donald - 46 (10.3%) pic.twitter.com/gO1rI0a930
As a reminder, Christian Barmore had 48 pressures in 2021, which ranked second among all rookie interior defensive linemen since 2006. He had a pressure rate of 12.6%. Among Patriots defenders, he trailed only Matthew Judon. The Patriots managed to snag him in the second round (38th overall), and he immediately looked like one of the best steals of the draft.
Christian Barmore with more love for Bill Belichick: "Literally, the best. Like, literally I learn every day from him. And everything he say, I do -- the same way he want me to do it. I just love listening to him. But he's good for me, he's a good coach."
— Dakota Randall (@DakRandallNESN) July 28, 2022
Without him, the Patriots’ front has still been impressive. Barmore will rejoin a defense that ranks second in the NFL in pressure rate at 26.4%. Judon has 14.5 sacks, with Uche joining him in double-digits on Monday (10). Deatrich Wise has had a career year with six and a half sacks, and Davon Godchaux, Carl Davis, and Lawrence Guy continue to play solid, underrated roles as run stuffers.
Barmore’s return should only serve to elevate the unit further. It may ultimately not be in week 15, but it’s coming. Should the Patriots win on Sunday, it’s well within the realm of possibility that New England could make the postseason. Fresh legs, especially in the trenches, are always a welcome addition this late in the season. When they belong to Christian Barmore, there’s only room for optimism for Patriots fans.