FOXBOROUGH, Mass. — Defensive tackle Christian Barmore of the New England Patriots made his return to the field during Sunday’s game against the Los Angeles Rams after an extended absence due to blood clots.

Barmore, who is 25 years old, was officially reinstated from the NFL’s non-football illness list on Saturday. He took to the practice field for the first time this season on Thursday and shared an inspirational post on Instagram, stating, “Where there’s no pain, there is no gain.”

The Patriots selected Barmore in the second round of the 2021 NFL Draft, bringing him in from Alabama. Last season, he played in all 17 games, accumulating an impressive 8.5 sacks and 65 tackles. His health issues stemming from blood clots first came to light after the team commenced their training camp.

In a statement made last month, head coach Jerod Mayo highlighted that there was potential for Barmore’s involvement in the current season’s games, indicating cautious optimism regarding his recovery.