FOXBOROUGH – For the Patriots, Milton Williams will be hard to replace.
After suffering a high ankle sprain against the New York Jets, the game-wrecking defensive tackle will miss at least the next four games after landing on the injured reserve. Losing a player of his caliber would be a problem for most teams.
However, most teams don’t have Christian Barmore.
After missing most of last season due to blood clots, this defensive tackle is ready to step up with his teammate on the mend. Barmore has shown before that he’s capable of playing at a Pro Bowl level. He’s confident he’ll do the same with Williams out.
“We’ve got to hold it down. That’s it,” Barmore told MassLive. “You know, our guys are going to be together. We’re going to be fine. We can’t wait till Milt gets back. But our goal is for everybody to play together. Defense, we’re going to be a team. We’re going to be fine.”
The Patriots coaching staff has worked with the team’s medical staff to limit Barmore’s practice time this season. This stems from him missing most of last season after being diagnosed with blood clots in his lungs.
It was a scary situation for Barmore. He returned to play on Nov. 16, appeared in four games, but then landed back on the reserve list due to recurring symptoms.
To manage his health, Barmore has been limited in at least one practice a week this season.
Before the diagnosis, Barmore led the Patriots with 8.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits in 2023. This season, through 11 games, he has 1 sack with six quarterback hits. Those numbers haven’t been reflective of his dominant play. Opposing teams have doubled Barmore, but his presence has cleared up space for edge rushers to get to the quarterback.
Barmore isn’t worried about stats.
“I’m a team player, man,” Barmore said. “My coach always told me it would come. I’m doing my job, whatever the coach wants me to do. But really, it’s a team defense. I’m not a selfish player. I do what I gotta do to make my team, help my team win. That’s all I care about is to win.”
Barmore notched his first sack of the season last week against the Jets. As soon as he brought down quarterback Justin Fields, edge rushers Harold Landry and K’Lavon Chaisson were right there to celebrate.
As good as it felt to get his first sack of 2025, Barmore said his teammates’ reaction meant more.
“I was excited,” Barmore said. “Especially, it was a big moment for my teammates when they were going crazy. And I loved it because, you know, we battle all together. It just gave me excitement because of how all my guys reacted to me, and I love it, man. Just gotta keep going.”
With Williams out, there will be more pressure on Barmore to step up and make an impact. That’s nothing new to the fifth-year veteran.
“I’m always ready,” Barmore said. “It’s always next man up for me. We’re all going to be good. We’re all just going to be together. We’re all going to be strong. But when Milt gets back, we can’t wait. But we’re all going to be good.”
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