Photo by Chris Unger/Getty Images The former practice squad member recovered a fumble against the Broncos on Sunday. The New England Patriots interior defensive line may lack household names or perennial Pro Bowlers, but that does not mean in lacks quality as well. Quite the opposite is the case, in fact. Christian Barmore has developed into one of the most disruptive defenders in the NFL; Davon Godchaux is as good a space-eater as there is; Deatrich Wise Jr. and Lawerence Guy Jr. offer a mix of leadership and steady production; second-round rookie Keion White has had flashes of brilliance this season. But while those five — rightfully so — get most of the headlines (and playing time), they are not the only Patriots D-linemen worth talking about. Introducing: Jeremiah Pharms Jr. While he is only the sixth guy in the rotation behind those five mentioned above, Pharms Jr. has quietly developed into a factor along a deep defensive line. The Denver Broncos found out first-hand on Sunday, when he recovered a Javonte Williams fumble in the early second quarter. The play was the most notable of Pharms Jr.’ season, and pro career. For his position coach, it was the natural result of his play style and the work he has put in behind the scenes. “He’s a high-effort guy. It doesn’t surprise me for him to be around the football,” Patriots defensive line coach DeMarcus Covington told reporters on Tuesday. Covington has worked closely with Pharms Jr. ever since his arrival last July. And since then, he has seen him go from bottom-of-the-roster player, to part-time offensive lineman, to practice squad member, to, finally, the 53-man roster. “When you look at Pharms, he earned the right to play based off his play, his production, in practice. First starting off as a practice squad player, giving us looks on show teams,” Covington said about the 27-year-old. “It was consistent every week, and it’s been consistent since then — still consistent each week, which gives him the opportunity to earn the right to play in the game. When you look at his stats based off of the amount of snaps that he plays and the production he has, I would say he probably averages a tackle every game with the small amount of snaps that he gets.” Spending his college career at Sacramento City College, San Joaquin Delta College, and Friends University, Pharms Jr. attempted to turn pro in 2020. However, the NFL was hesitant to bring him on board and he had to spend what would have been his rookie season out of football. Pharms Jr. went on to sign with the Wichita Force of the now-defunct Champions Indoor Football league in 2021, and later also spent time with the Pittsburgh Maulers of the USFL. Then, in July 2022 he finally got his chance in the NFL. The Patriots signed him to their active roster just a few days before the start of training camp. Despite his late arrival, Pharms Jr. did enough to earn a spot on the practice squad for the 2022 season and another chance to prove himself the following year. He did just that, and made the developmental roster once again before his promotion in early November. Since then, Pharms Jr. has played 68 defensive snaps over 10 games, registering six total tackles and that fumble recovery against the Broncos. “I always joke with Jeremiah and say, ‘One day, hopefully, I’ll be a part of your story in your book.’ Because I’m just so proud of that dude,” Covington said about him last week. “Every single day, Jeremiah is working on something. In the morning, probably one of the first guys in there, last one off the field. Asks great questions in the meeting room. Even when he was on the practice squad, he prepared as if he was a starter on defense. Now you see a guy that’s on the active roster, that suited up on game days, that’s reaping the rewards.” Source: https://www.patspulpit.com/2023/12/26/2 ... nsive-line
