Shutterstock
Kenny Clark’s mystery 2024 slump? It wasn’t because the veteran defensive tackle lost his edge – it was because he was playing through serious pain. Clark battled a brutal toe injury that he suffered in Week 1 during the Brazil game, an issue that lingered all season without proper treatment. The Packers’ defensive cornerstone gutted it out before finally undergoing surgery to fix a bunion after the season ended, according to The Athletic.
“It was a tough year for me,” Clark admitted. “Every step and the toe is busting. It’s something you’ve got to deal with, but it is what it is. That’s done. I got the surgery done and yeah, we’re moving forward.”
Despite being a nine-year NFL veteran, Clark is still only 29 – right in his prime years when defensive tackles typically dominate. For a Packers team with legitimate Super Bowl aspirations, getting their anchor back to Pro Bowl form could be the difference between a deep playoff run and an early exit.
The timing couldn’t be more critical.
Green Bay fielded a top-10 defense last season, racking up 45 sacks (10th in the NFL). While they faded late in the year, their defensive prowess was the backbone of their success – and that was with Clark playing nowhere near 100%. Imagine what a healthy version could bring to a unit already showing elite potential.
Though Clark isn’t fully participating in team activities yet, he’s targeting a return for training camp. Any setback could seriously impact a Packers team that’s clearly operating with a championship-or-bust mentality heading into 2025.
LaFleur’s Van Ness Move Now Makes Perfect Sense
Head coach Matt LaFleur recently revealed plans to use Lukas Van Ness as an interior defensive lineman in passing situations – a strategy that looks increasingly brilliant in light of Clark’s injury update. It’s not just a creative way to maximize talent – it’s insurance if Clark needs more recovery time or experiences any setbacks.
Van Ness, primarily an edge rusher, hasn’t exactly lit the world on fire since being drafted in the first round. With just seven sacks through his first two seasons, his production hasn’t matched his draft position. Moving him inside on passing downs accomplishes two things: it gives the former Iowa standout a fresh opportunity to make an impact, and it helps fortify a potential weakness if Clark isn’t fully himself early in the season.
There’s no replacing what a healthy Clark brings to Green Bay’s defense. His ability to collapse pockets from the interior is rare – even among starting NFL defensive tackles. And asking Van Ness to learn a new position has its challenges. But if this experiment works, it could actually strengthen the Packers’ defense by creating mismatches against interior offensive linemen who aren’t prepared for Van Ness’s unique skill set.
The Packers thrived last season by pressuring quarterbacks and creating turnovers. They simply can’t afford regression in either area if they want to compete with the NFC’s elite teams. Van Ness’s position flexibility gives defensive coordinator Jeff Hafley more options to maintain that pressure.
And if Clark’s recovery takes longer than expected, this positional experiment might be the difference between maintaining an elite defense and watching it crumble without its cornerstone.
