New England Patriots defensive tackle Christian Barmore is expected to begin the NFL team’s offseason program on time after a health issue wrecked his 2024 season, coach Mike Vrabel said on Monday.

“By all accounts, he’s going to participate in the voluntary offseason program,” the Patriots’ new coach told reporters at the AFC coaches breakfast at the annual league meetings in Palm Beach, Florida.

On July 28, New England announced Barmore had been diagnosed with blood clots. The former Alabama standout did not practice again with his teammates until Nov. 14, and Barmore played 21 defensive snaps in the Patriots’ 28-22 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Nov. 17 in his 2024 debut.

Barmore played 66 defensive snaps across the next two games, and he got his first sack of the season on Nov. 24, when he took down Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, a former Alabama teammate.

But on Dec. 19, Barmore’s fourth NFL season ended when the Patriots placed him on reserve/non-football injury because of “recurring symptoms that required further evaluation” related to the ailment.

“He popped in the other day to see the doctors,” Vrabel said on Monday. “I knew Christian from when I saw him at Alabama. Haven’t really had any interaction with him. And when he walked into the training room, just his energy and presence, so I know that he’s feeling better. We’ll continue to evaluate him. It’s something very serious.

“We take the health of our players extremely serious, especially when you’re talking about something like blood clots, and we’re going to have a great plan for him. We’re going to do right by him whatever is necessary, however we can get him to help us based on days of practice, based on everything that he needs. And we don’t have that plan yet, but we’re continuing to work through it.”

Barmore joined New England from Alabama’s 2020 undefeated CFP national-championship team in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft. After playing in every game as a rookie, Barmore played in 10 in 2022 because of injuries.

In 2023, Barmore reached career highs with 64 tackles, 8.5 sacks, 13 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits and six pass breakups.

After that season, New England signed Barmore to a four-year, $83 million contract extension.

This offseason, the Patriots signed free agent defensive tackle Milton Williams from the Philadelphia Eagles to a four-year, $104 million contract.

New England’s offseason program is scheduled to start on April 7.

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Mark Inabinett is a sports reporter for Alabama Media Group. Follow him on X at @AMarkG1.