Green Bay Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark revealed on Tuesday that he played through a significant foot injury throughout the 2024 season. In January, Clark underwent surgery to address the issue, which he later identified as bone spurs.
“It was definitely a challenging season,” Clark admitted. “But I’m feeling good now. I’m back on the field for practice. The focus is just on pushing ahead.”
The injury stemmed from an incident during Green Bay’s Week 1 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles, held at Arena Corinthians in São Paulo, Brazil. Clark said his foot became lodged in the turf. That same game saw quarterback Jordan Love suffer a sprained MCL, which forced him to miss the following two contests.
Despite the early injury, Clark managed to start all 17 games for the Packers and took the field in their only postseason appearance, once again against Philadelphia. However, his production noticeably declined—he ended the season with just 37 tackles and one sack, his least impactful stat line since entering the league as a rookie in 2016.
“It’s not just about the speed,” Clark explained. “It’s every single step. Walking, running—every movement felt off with my toe messed up. You just have to deal with it. But that’s in the past now. I had the surgery and I’m looking ahead.”
When at full strength, Clark remains a cornerstone of Green Bay’s defense. The three-time Pro Bowler had a standout campaign in 2023, setting a personal best with 7.5 sacks, adding two forced fumbles and three passes defensed. That performance led to a lucrative three-year, $64 million contract extension in July 2024.
Since being selected in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft, Clark has logged at least four sacks in all but three seasons. He’s been a consistent presence on the field, starting every game—both regular season and playoffs—for the Packers since 2021.
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