Tag: Kenny Clark

Packers restructure Kenny Clark’s contract, create almost $11M in salary cap space

The salary cap work has begun in Green Bay. The Packers created almost $11 million in cap space by restructuring the contract of DL Kenny Clark.

The work to get under the salary cap has officially begun for the Green Bay Packers.

According to Field Yates of ESPN, the team restructured the contract of defensive lineman Kenny Clark, creating almost $11 million in cap space.

The Packers converted over $13 million of base salary and roster bonuses due to Clark in 2022 into a signing bonus and added two void years to the end of his deal, allowing the team to spread the cap hit over five years and lower his cap number drastically in 2022.

Clark’s deal was one sure-fire way for the Packers – who entered the offseason needing to shed over $50 million in cap commitments – to create immediate space. His contract was structured in the right way (meaning he had base salary and roster bonuses to convert), plus he’s an elite player and only 26 years old. Pushing money into the future on his deal doesn’t carry with it a high amount of risk for the Packers.

Clark is a two-time Pro Bowler who had 4.0 sacks and 13 quarterback hits for the Packers last season.

Restructuring Clark’s deal is only the start of the work to be done. As was the case offseason, expect the Packers to restructure many more veteran contracts, including David Bakhtiari and Aaron Jones. The team also has several veterans that could turn into cap casualties.

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Packers getting Pro Bowl DL Kenny Clark back from COVID-19 reserve list

Packers DL Kenny Clark returned to practice on Thursday and should be available for Saturday against the Browns.

The Green Bay Packers will get a big boost in the middle of their defensive line for Saturday’s Christmas Day showdown with the Cleveland Browns.

Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark was back at practice on Thursday, meaning he’ll come off the COVID-19 reserve list and be available to play Saturday.

Clark, who was named to his second Pro Bowl on Wednesday, missed the Packers’ win over the Baltimore Ravens on Sunday while on the reserve list. The Ravens rushed for 143 yards, including 70 yards on just 13 carries from running backs.

The Packers originally placed Clark on the list on Thursday of last week.

Getting him back comes at the perfect time. The Browns are talented up front along the offensive line and feature one of the NFL’s best rushing attacks. Also of note, Browns center J.C. Tretter is going on the COVID-19 reserve list after he tested positive on Thursday, meaning there will be no battle between Tretter and Clark – the two former teammates – on Saturday.

Over 13 games, Clark has produced 54 total pressures and 23 defensive stops, per Pro Football Focus. He also has four sacks and a career-high 13 quarterback hits.

If Clark comes off the COVID-19 reserve list on Thursday as expected, only receiver Marquez Valdes-Scantling will remain on the list.

The Packers will provide a full injury report and game status designations later on Thursday.

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Packers ruling out LT David Bakhtiari vs. Ravens, DL Kenny Clark not expected to play

The Packers aren’t expecting to have LT David Bakhtiari or DL Kenny Clark on Sunday against the Ravens.

The Green Bay Packers aren’t expecting to have left tackle David Bakhtiari or defensive lineman Kenny Clark on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

Coach Matt LaFleur said the team will rule out Bakhtiari for Sunday even though he practiced this week, and Clark isn’t expected to play while still on the COVID-19 reserve list.

Bakhtiari hasn’t played this season, but he did return to practice on Wednesday and was able to participate in a limited capacity all three days. The Packers aren’t rushing him back after he needed a scope to clean up his surgically-repaired knee last month.

“He will be out,” LaFleur said Friday.

Left tackle Yosh Nijman will start at left tackle for the third straight game.

Clark tested positive for COVID-19 and was placed on the reserve list on Wednesday.

It’s possible for Clark to have a negative test and be activated in time to play, but LaFleur said the Packers aren’t anticipating to have him available against the Ravens. Rookie T.J. Slaton will get more playing time at nose tackle.

LaFleur confirmed the Packers did not have any other new additions to the COVID-19 reserve list as of Friday.

LaFleur also said the Packers will have quarterback Aaron Rodgers and running back Aaron Jones against the Ravens. Rodgers is still working through a lingering toe injury and didn’t practice this week, but he’s remained committed to not missing games regardless of practice status. Jones sat out Thursday’s practice with a “little stomach bug” but returned Friday and will play Sunday.

“He feels a lot better and we anticipate him being at full strength on Sunday,” LaFleur said.

The Packers will release an official injury report later on Friday.

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Packers DL Kenny Clark headed to COVID-19 reserve list

The Packers will lose DL Kenny Clark to the COVID-19 reserve list on Thursday.

The Green Bay Packers have an important player headed to the COVID-19 reserve list.

Coach Matt LaFleur revealed Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark will be the team’s one player added to the reserve list on Thursday.

Clark has played in all 13 games to start the season. He’s produced four sacks, seven tackles for losses and 13 quarterback hits, and he ranks third among all NFL defensive linemen with 54 total pressures.

LaFleur said rookie T.J. Slaton will play a “big role” in helping replace Clark on Sunday against the Baltimore Ravens.

“Other guys are going to have to step up,” LaFleur said. “That’s just the world we live in right now. A lot of teams are facing these issues.”

The Packers also have Tyler Lancaster and Jack Heflin available to help inside alongside starters Kingsley Keke and Dean Lowry.

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Packers believe DL Kenny Clark avoided long-term back injury

Packers coach Matt LaFleur said he doesn’t think Kenny Clark’s back injury will be a long-term issue.

The Green Bay Packers think they’ve avoided another major injury to the defense. Coach Matt LaFleur said Monday that the team believes defensive lineman Kenny Clark avoided a long-term back injury.

Clark injured his back on Sunday during the 13-7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He exited the game and was eventually ruled out after 24 snaps.

Asked if there was any concern over the injury, LaFleur said he wasn’t worried about the injury being a long-term issue, but he also admitted he wasn’t sure about Clark’s availability for Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.

“As far as this week, I really don’t know at this point,” LaFleur said.

Clark ranks second on the team with 31 pressures and 17 stops this season, per Pro Football Focus.

With Clark unavailable, Kinglsey Keke out and Dean Lowry on a pitch count, the Packers played more of rookies T.J. Slaton (45 snaps) and Jack Heflin (10) along the defensive line.

The Packers can finally breathe a sign of relief on the injury front. The defense has already dealt with significant injuries to All-Pros Jaire Alexander and Za’Darius Smith this season, and losing Clark for any longer than a few weeks could have really hurt an ascending Packers defense.

Clark’s status is worth monitoring during the week, especially with Russell Wilson expected back for the Seahawks. The Packers won’t provide the first injury report of the week until Wednesday.

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Packers lose Pro Bowl DL Kenny Clark to back injury vs. Chiefs

More bad injury luck: The Packers ruled out DL Kenny Clark because of a back injury on Sunday against the Chiefs.

The Green Bay Packers’ terrible injury luck continues. The team ruled out Pro Bowl defensive lineman Kenny Clark due to a back injury suffered on Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

He was originally listed as questionable to return before being officially ruled out.

Clark, one of the most disruptive interior defenders in football, is the latest in a long line of injury situations to face the Packers this season.

Losing Clark could be a crushing blow upfront for the Packers defense. He is terrific against the run and as a pass-rusher. And the Packers are already without Kingsley Keke (concussion) on Sunday.

Through the first eight games of 2021, Clark delivered 31 pressures and 17 defensive stops, per Pro Football Focus.

Tyler Lancaster and rookies T.J. Slaton and Jack Heflin will get more snaps with Clark and Keke out.

Coach Matt LaFleur could provide an injury update on Clark following the contest.

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Lions vs Packers: 5 key matchups for the Week 2 game

The Detroit Lions will face the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football and look to come ahead on these 5 key matchups for victory

The national scene is set for the first division matchup of the NFC North, with Green Bay Packers hosting the Detroit Lions on Monday Night Football. Last week, the Lions kept fighting against the San Francisco 49ers but ultimately came up short in what would’ve been an epic comeback. On the other side of the coin, things did not go according to plan for the Green Bay Packers as they outmatched against the New Orleans Saints and also dropped their season opener.

For the Lions, there were some positives to take away from last week, like the effective running game coupled with strong offensive line play. Unfortunately, the defense fell short, with the young secondary showing its colors and questionable linebacker effectiveness. The Packers will look to redeem themselves after an embarrassing showing last week, and no better way to do it than against a division rival in front of a national audience.

Not many are giving the Lions a chance, but if they can continue the bleeding the Packers are suffering from and come on top of this week’s matchup, they might have a shot at showing the national audience they will not be bullied.

I want him: Which Packers player do you want on the Saints?

I want him: Which Green Bay Packers player do you want on the New Orleans Saints?

It’s not news that the Green Bay Packers have built one of the NFL’s strongest rosters. They’re presenting a sky-high challenge for the New Orleans Saints in Week 1 as legit Super Bowl contenders, hoping to treat the black and gold as little more than a speed bump on their way to the playoffs.

But what if we could pick one player from Green Bay’s roster to instead join the Saints? Knowing the team’s strengths and weaknesses, which Packer would you want to go turncoat? To make it at least a little challenging (and more interesting), we took Aaron Rodgers off the board. Here are our staff picks this week:

Cardinals play 5 games against NFL’s top interior defenders in 2021

They face Aaron Donald, DeForest Buckner, Kenny Clark and Akiem Hicks in five games.

The Arizona Cardinals, like every team in the NFL, will face top players at every position over the course of the season. In terms of interior defensive linemen, Touchdown Wire’s Doug Farrar ranked the top 11 interior defenders in the league entering this coming season.

The Cardinals will face four of them in a total of five games. What teams and what players are they?

Check them out below.

Listen to the latest from Cards Wire’s Jess Root on his podcast, Rise Up, See Red. Subscribe on Apple podcasts or Spotify.

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Reviewing the NFL draft’s No. 27 pick from the last decade

The Baltimore Ravens are set to pick 27th in the 2021 NFL draft. There has been a lot of great players selected there over the last decade.

With an unusual offseason that won’t have the NFL Scouting Combine due to COVID-19 restrictions, the 2021 NFL draft might be sneaking up on everyone. Now just two months away, the Baltimore Ravens are likely knee-deep in their preparations; scouting prospects to move them up and down their draft board.

The Ravens’ first pick is at No. 27 in the first round, which has historically been a pretty good draft spot. While the exact pick number has no bearing on what a player will do once in the league, quite a few special players have been taken at the 27th spot, including one of Baltimore’s own. Of the 11 players selected at No. 27 from 2010-2020, they’ve earned a combined 11 Pro Bowl nominations and four first-team All-Pro nominations.

Instead of looking forward to which prospects might make the most sense for Baltimore, let’s take a look back at what type of player has typically been taken over the last decade.