New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore will be activated for Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams after being out since July due to blood clots.
Barmore will be removed from the NFL’s non-football illness list and will be available to play, according to ESPN’s Mike Reiss.
The 25-year-old Barmore practiced for the first time this season on Thursday and Patriots head coach Jerod Mayo said there was a chance Barmore could play.
“[Thursday] It was a good day,” Mayo said. “Just seeing Barmore there was an amazing sight to see. The expectation is that there is no expectation. When he’s ready to go, he’ll play. … We leave the final decision to the medical professionals.”
After Thursday’s practice, Barmore posted on an Instagram Story: “Where there’s no pain, there’s no gain.”
Barmore had a breakout third season in 2023 after the Patriots selected him in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. The Alabama product appeared in all 17 games and had 65 tackles with 8.5 sacks and 13 tackles for loss . The extension he signed with the team included more than $40 million in guaranteed money.
“I am very happy to have a playmaker on the field again. Barmore is a unique, very good pass rusher. I’m so happy to have him back in that element,” said defensive tackle Davon Godchaux.
To activate Barmore, wide receiver Tyquan Thornton was waived. Thornton, 24, was selected by the Patriots in the second round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
In three seasons, Thornton had 39 receptions for 385 yards and two touchdowns with New England. He played just four games this season and totaled four receptions.
