The Patriots Two Biggest Injury Concerns are Crushing OTAs as The Summer of Hope Continues

Jerry Thornton6/10/2025 6:33 PM

Maddie Meyer. Getty Images.

Even in early June, no football team is ever truly free from worrying about key player injuries. Not even teams coming off 4-13 seasons that have to use the loosest possible definition of "key player." But even in the very best of times, the Patriots weren't immune from having to deal with health questions, even this time of year. Rob Gronkowski always seemed to be gutting out various surgeries, including the doctors opening him back up to fix what they failed to the first time around. Wes Welker and Julian Edelman each missed time in their primes with ACL tears. David Andrews missed a season with blood clots. Marcus Cannon was a cancer survivor who played a lot of games, but by necessity his name made regular appearances on the injury report. There are dozens of examples. But the point is you can't put the human body on a 120 yd X 53.3 yd rectangle filled with 21 other testoserone fueled rageholics and expect to be in peak physical condition, even in the deadest part of the offseason.

For the 2025 Patriots trying to climb out of the 4-13 abyss, there have been two major health issues, presumptive WR1 Stefon Diggs and their best defensive player from 2021 until last season, DT Christian Barmore.

And as I sit here determined - vowing to you with blood in my eyes - to be optimistic in this, The Summer of Hope, I'm leaning into the good news from these two guys. Both of whom are going to be critical to the mission of getting this franchise back into contention.

Taking them in order, Diggs. coming back from an ACL tear in October, is passing every eyeball test. In fact, he's running and cutting like he hasn't torn anything more dangerous than the top of a hot bag of Pop Secret:

No less an authority Mike Vrabel is encouraged:

Pro Football Talk - “Good. I mean, he’s tried to figure out where everything is and what his role is, making sure that as we add those situations — the third down, the no-huddle, the red zone — that he’s staying up on it,” Vrabel said in his press conference. “He’s working hard in his rehab and when he can — there’s certain drills he can be out there and certain drills he won’t be. But I think he’s engaged and I like his energy.”

And he'll get no argument from another opinion that counts, Drake Maye:

Also PFT - Maye added that he’s been able to see some of Diggs’ work ethic in action.
“In the meetings, [he’s] asking questions, asking me after plays, ‘Hey, what should I have done there? Hey, in the past, I’ve done this when the guy’s playing this leverage,’ stuff like that,” Maye said. “He’s seen a lot of different things, played a long time in this league. It’s been great for me. A veteran receiver, him, Mack [Hollins], Kendrick Bourne. We got three, not really old heads, but old heads in their 30s. It’s been awesome for us to find how they lead the room and help this offense.”

It's hard to overstate what a boost a fully recovered Diggs would be. If he's ready to go in Week 1, and while I'm not paid to offer my medical advice it's hard to find any indication he won't be, than for the first time in recent memory, you won't see the entire wide receiver depth chart being forced to play "up." Everyone slotted higher than they belong. Guys who should be considered spread offense only or even depth playing 50 snaps a game. WR3s playing WR2, and so on. And no true top tier wideout anywhere to be seen. Slide Diggs into that role to take on every opponent's No. 1 corner and it has a net positive effect on Hollinses, Bournes and Demario Douglas. Each playing according to their actual ability instead of being asked to play over their heads.

As a reminder, three of the first four games are at home. So this is the chance to get off to a good start for the first time in memory. And from what I'm hearing, insiders are wildly impressed by the progress Josh McDaniels' offense has made since the start of practices in front of the media. Diggs can only accelerate that progress and flatten that learning curve. And it looks like he is. So Good News number one.

Number two is Barmore, recovering (in David Andrews fashion) from blood clots. Scary as that can be, he doesn't sound like he's the least bit concerned:

Heavy - “There’s really like a lot of fire in my heart,” Barmore said. “Because you know, I feel after that situation people forget who I am and really just I am bringing like a lot of just competitive with me. And you know, every day I am on this field, just have to feel this. Just feel–to prove that I’m still me and I’m always going to be me.” …
Barmore, in fact, warned the rest of the NFL about the potential for the Patriots’ D-line to dominate.
“I love it,” he said. “It excites me every time. It’s real good energy every day. Man, them boys are dominant. Keon [White], you know how he is, he dominant. Milton [William]’s dominant. For me it’s just like how we roll, how we going to take over the game. That’s our goal, how the D-line going to take over. Game’s won up front, so that’s our goal every time.
He also said it is important for established veterans like himself and Williams to set an example.
“We’re setting a standard for the young guys,” Barmore said. “The young guys watch us old guys, just to motivate, keep being better today. We are all here together. We are all going to grind together, we are all going to be hurt together, we are all going to just be here for each other. Best players on the team, if you play hard, everybody’s gonna play hard.”

Giphy Images.

Barmore is another example of how it's difficult to understate his importance.

That statement about him being their best defensive player from 2021 to last season is not hyperbole. Christian Gonzalez in 2023 doesn't count because he was injured so early. Whereas that season Barmore was Top 10 in the league among all DTs in sacks, Pro Football Focus overall grade and pass rush grade. He was also Top 20 in win % on pass rush snaps.

With him out of commission for most of last year, the Pats defense went from 7th in yards allowed and 15th in points in 2023, to 22nd and 22nd in 2024. No one's going to argue he was the only reason for the dropoff. But if you think he wasn't a major factor, you haven't been paying attention.

Moreover, just from the perspective of roster construction, Barmore being in the lineup again means we have more to show for the otherwise disastrous 2021 draft than just Rhamondre Stevenson. In fact, you can expand that and say that in the four drafts from 2019 to 2022 all they have are those two, Kyle Dugger, Marcus Jones and Cole Strange, who's chance of making the Week 1 roster is in doubt. Barmore contributing once again will mitigate a lot of the harm that came out of the War Room in those years.

So I for one am going to take the progress of these two vital players as more great news in an offseason that has been one positive story after another. Yes, it's only June. Thanks for reminding me.