One of the biggest problems of the Patriots' 2024 season was the pile-up of injuries, which made their job much more difficult on game day. This led to countless offensive lineup changes, which negatively impacted any offensive progression, and disasters on defense in multiple areas. Some players suffered season-ending injuries within the first month of the season, while others, like Christian Barmore, had a much foggier future in Foxboro due to health concerns.
The defensive tackle was diagnosed with blood clots in the summer that Patriots doctors caught early enough to hopefully not have a long-standing impact on Barmore's health. It forced him to miss the rest of the offseason and the start of the year, not allowing him to suit up for a game until Week 11.
Eventually, he had to step away from football again after Week 15, leaving his football and Patriots future in doubt.
Because the defense was a priority in free agency and the later rounds of the draft, it sparked some speculation about Barmore's availability for the 2025 season. He was seen working out with teammates in offseason videos, but he finally addressed his future with the team while speaking to reporters last week.
Christian Barmore has been cleared to take part in the Patriots' offseason workouts and will be with the team moving forward
As one of the more anticipated media availabilities of the offseason, Barmore revealed to reporters last week that he has been cleared for football activity and will participate in the Patriots' offseason program moving forward.
It's a big step in his health journey and for the Patriots' defensive hopes, as Barmore is a force on the line when on the field and was sorely missed throughout last season because of it.
Now, they won't have to be concerned about him missing more games, and he has already been working hard with new signing Milton Williams, hoping to create a dominant duo on the defensive line for the 2025 season.
Barmore will be a significant cog in the defensive machine that Mike Vrabel hopes to build this offseason, even more so with the players they added through the draft, DT Joshua Farmer and Bradyn Swinson.
Having the Patriots' veteran back in the lineup is a massive win for the team and their chances of having an unstoppable defensive front, which they have long lacked.