New England Patriots star defensive tackle Christian Barmore is headed to the reserve non-football illness list, the team announced Thursday.
Barmore, 25, “experienced some recurring symptoms that require further evaluation,” the Patriots said in their statement.
Those symptoms, though not explicitly referenced by the organization, could have to do with the blood clots Barmore was diagnosed with over the summer.
The Philadelphia native had been hospitalized in July and his recovery spanned the summer and stretched well into the fall.
Barmore returned to game action in time for the Patriots Week 11 matchup versus the Los Angeles Rams, but his move to the reserve non-football illness list Thursday likely ends his season.
“We appreciate everything Christian did to return to the team this season, but our top priority is Christian’s health and wellbeing,” the team said in its statement. “We know that he will continue to receive tremendous care and we want to ensure that he gets the time he needs to come back stronger than ever.”
No timetable for Barmore’s return was provided.
The fourth-year defensive tackle was coming off his best campaign to date in 2023.
In his age-23 season, Barmore set career marks in games started (six), sacks (8.5), QB hits (16) and tackles (64).
Ahead of his fourth NFL season, Barmore signed a four-year contract worth $92 million, $41.8 million of which was guaranteed. He was projected as a full-time starter until the blood clots derailed his aspirations.
“Blood clots are not a joke,” Barmore said when he returned to the Patriots in mid-November, per NESN. “I had real bad shortness of breath and it messed with me like a lot.
“My teammates really supported the hell out of me, and I love them and [my] coaches and all,” Barmore continued. “I was not going to lose that battle … I told myself, ‘I’m going to keep fighting and keep going.’”