The New England Patriots trimmed their roster to 53 players before Tuesday's 4 p.m. ET league deadline by releasing 16 players, placing three on injured reserve, putting another on the physically unable to perform list (PUP) and placing Christian Barmore on the non-football injury list (NFI).
Barmore was hospitalized with blood clots during the first week of Patriots training camp in July. Although he could return this season, Barmore is a candidate to miss the entire season if his doctors do not clear him for football activities.
The league's NFI list is similar to the PUP list but is reserved for players who have suffered injuries or ailments outside of NFL activities. Players who begin the season on the NFI can be activated after the team has played its first four regular season games.
If medically cleared, the earliest Barmore could return would be the Patriots matchup with the Miami Dolphins on Oct. 6.
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One glaring difference between NFI and PUP is if a player is on the non-football injury list, they are not entitled to receive their salary, and their contract will continue to run while on the list. If Barmore is sidelined for the entire 2024 NFL season, he would only have three years remaining on the four-year, $84 million deal he signed with the Patriots in April after a breakout campaign that included 64 tackles and 8.5 sacks across all 17 games. However, Barmore and the Patriots can negotiate a rate of payment while he is sidelined.
Featured image via Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports Images
