FOXBORO – The Patriots have a plan in place for defensive tackle Christian Barmore as he returns from blood clot issues that limited him to just four games last season.
That’s why Barmore was limited to conditioning work Thursday in the Patriots’ second training camp practice of the summer, per a source. Barmore ran with trainers while the rest of his teammates participated in full-team drills. Barmore hasn’t suffered any setbacks, per a source, and said Thursday that he still plans on being on the field Week 1 when the Patriots face the Raiders at Gillette Stadium.
“I feel really good, man,” Barmore said Thursday. “I feel back to myself, feel back to normal. Just really happy, man.”
Barmore also looks noticeably slimmed down this offseason. Listed at 315 pounds, Barmore said he previously played anywhere from 315 to 325 pounds in past seasons with the Patriots. Now he’s aiming to weigh between 300 and 305 pounds in his return to the field in the best shape of his career.
“Really man, just doing a lot of conditioning, a lot of running, a lot of core workouts and all of that,” Barmore said. “Just working hard with (director of sports performance) Coach Frank (Piraino) too. He’s got a good plan for me. Just having me in the best shape as possible. These coaches I have and the medical staff are just really good people helping me put me in the best possible shape that I’m supposed to be in, and I’m really grateful for that.”
Barmore said the decision for him to trim weight was made by himself and the team.
“As a man, it’s my decision. And their decision. I’m following their rules too,” Barmore said. “I’m just following everybody’s rules. It’s my job too.”
On top of focusing on ladder drills, flexibility and getting on the track for hurdles, Barmore also closely monitored what he ate this offseason.
“Eat your veggies,” Barmore said, laughing.
Barmore wouldn’t go so far as to say the weight loss will help him in the Patriots’ new aggressive, attacking defense, led by coordinator Terrell Williams. But the Patriots’ previous scheme asked its defensive tackles to two-gap and eat up space.
Barmore said he’s feeling faster now, and that should help him get upfield with fellow defensive tackle Milton Williams, the Patriots’ top free-agent addition.
“I feel lighter, and I feel way quicker. And I feel like I move way better,” Barmore said. “It’s the best I’ve felt moving since I’ve been in the league. I feel really well.”
Barmore earned a four-year contract extension worth up to $92 million last offseason but missed most of the season after being diagnosed with blood clots early in 2024 training camp. Coming off of a career year with 8.5 sacks and 49 total pressures in 2023, Barmore never quite looked like himself in 123 defensive snaps last season, totaling one sack and just three total pressures.
The Patriots retooled their defense this offseason, adding Milton Williams, linebacker Robert Spillane, outside linebacker Harold Landry and cornerback Carlton Davis. If Barmore can regain his form from two years ago, it could push the defense from solid to great.
“It’s all about a dominating front,” Barmore said. “That’s what we talk about. Lean on us, especially the whole D-line, linebackers and D-ends, everybody. If the front play great, everybody play good. So every time we’re on that field, we’ve got to dominate. That’s our goal.”
The Patriots’ top defense Wednesday featured Barmore and Williams and defensive tackle, Landry and Keion White on the edge, Spillane and Christian Elliss at linebacker, Davis, Christian Gonzalez and Marcus Jones at cornerback and Kyle Dugger and Jabrill Peppers at safety.
After a down season in 2024 that saw players deal with injuries, medical and legal issues, the Patriots’ defense has high hopes for this season.
“We’ve got a lot of dogs on this field,” Barmore said. “I just love it. The energy is high, and I love it.”
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