Patriots not ruling out Christian Barmore for Sunday, Jerod Mayo says ‘there’s a chance’ he plays
"The expectation is there is no expectation. When he's ready to go, he will play."
The Patriots released their injury report Friday afternoon, and notably did not yet rule out Christian Barmore from Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams.
Barmore returned to practice for the first time this season on Thursday in a limited capacity, and did not participate in Friday’s practice. Despite that, New England head coach Jerod Mayo told reporters there was “a chance” Barmore would be able to suit up in Week 11.
“We have a meeting with the doctors after practice today,” Mayo said. “There is a chance. No, seriously. There is a chance.”
Mayo added that Barmore has been itching to get back to work ever since his blood clots were discovered, and gave his own perspective on how it feels to be sidelined due to something you can’t actually see.
“Yesterday was a good day practicing. Just to see Barmore out there was a great sight to see,” Mayo said. “The expectation is there is no expectation. When he’s ready to go, he will play.
“It’s tough as an athlete when you have something like blood clots because you don’t have a cast on. You don’t have a sling on. It’s almost like invisible, ‘I feel good enough to play’ … but there are definitely steps and procedures that you have to get through.”
Barmore had a breakout season in 2023, notching 8.5 sacks and 64 tackles despite only being a starter for six of his 17 games. He was expected to be a key contributor to the Patriots’ defense in 2024 before his diagnosis.
As Barmore inches closer to a return to action, New England is surely hoping to see the return of Kyle Dugger sooner than later as well. Dugger is also heading into Sunday with a questionable tag. He practiced all three days ahead of the Week 11 matchup, but was not a full participant in any of the three.
Dugger hasn’t played since the Patriots’ loss to Jacksonville in Germany on Oct. 20. ESPN’s Mike Reiss reported that Dugger felt he was trending upwards, a good sign he could return for Week 11.
Hunter Henry, who was on the injury report with a foot injury, was a full participant on Thursday and Friday and does not have an injury designation for Sunday.
Here is New England’s full injury report ahead of Sunday’s game:
Questionable
- CB Alex Austin (ankle)
- DL Christian Barmore (other)
- S Kyle Dugger (ankle)
- DT Daniel Ekuale (abdomen)
- LB Christian Elliss (abdomen)
- T Vederian Lowe (shoulder)
- S Marte Mapu (neck)
- DT Jaquelin Roy (neck)
- LB Sione Takitaki (knee)
- DE Deatrich Wise Jr. (foot)
Kickoff for Patriots-Rams is set for 1:00 p.m. Eastern Time at Gillette Stadium.
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