FOXBOROUGH - Christian Barmore is confident you'll see him on the football field in Week 1 against the Las Vegas Raiders.
"Yeah, I just gotta keep following the medical team, but everything looks real well," said the 26-year-old.
Barmore met with the media for the first time since the recurrence of blood clots ended his 2024-25 season. He has been a regular participant in the voluntary portion of OTAs and says he is cleared to be a full participant going forward. But as for what caused the clots and why he's so sure they won't return, Barmore passed on an explanation.
"I'll just go next question," he said. "I don't want to talk about that."
Barmore was initially diagnosed with blood clots at the beginning of training camp in late July. He was sidelined for 10 games before returning to action in Week 11. But after playing in four games, the clots returned, ending the talented defensive lineman's season prematurely. It was all very difficult for Barmore to process.
"It was really confusing, anger, and just really, mind blown because I was putting a lot of work here at that time. It's like all that work prepared for nothing, it feels. Because I was doing everything I could just to come back for this team last year, and it's just like - I don't ever want to be in a situation again. (I don't want) anybody in the world to ever go through that. That stuff was no joke..."
Barmore said he hasn't had to make any dietary changes, though he did add that he's worked harder on cardio than in the past. From the looks of it, he appears leaner than he's been. That could be a residual impact - and added motivation - after a scary six months.
"I could have lost a lot, and literally, all the work I put in could have been taken away," he told us. "And I've been really hurt. So, I can never take things for granted and just keep on working harder. And just, you know, keep doing what God plans."
Barmore, who understandably made minimal impact in the games he played last season, has been energized by this opportunity to play ball again and by the addition of Milton Williams. The two have been having a contest to see who gets in the weight room first or the meeting room, and Barmore's eyes lit up when Williams' name was mentioned.
"Yes, that's my guy, my boy," he smiled and laughed, adding. "We always going at it, my guy. He make me work hard, man. He's a hell of a worker, a hell of a guy, a hell of a player. So really excited, definitely, to see him and really excited to be right with him."
Two seasons ago, Barmore was one of the breakout players across the entire league, a wrecking ball capable of disrupting the pass or run. The latter, in particular, was a place of real growth, and there was a belief internally that the team had one of those blue-chippers who required multiple eyes and more than one set of hands on him every play. Barmore finished the season with 64 tackles and 8.5 sacks, and, though some of the numbers were skewed, was part of the spine of a top 10 defense. The thought of a healthy Barmore - that 2023-24 Barmore - alongside Williams could keep opposing offensive coordinators and line coaches up for days and put the Pats right back into the mix as one of those defenses nobody wants to play.
"Yes, I'm really excited. Really excited because I got literally, like, we got some hungry dogs," said Barmore.