An injury-plagued 2024 season caused Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark to fall out of ESPN’s top 10 ranking of defensive tackles entering the 2025 season. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler puts together the annual preseason rankings based on votes from coaches, executives and scouts. While Clark received votes among the top 10, he fell from No. 9 in the ranking entering 2024 to outside the top 10 — and wasn’t even an honorable mention — entering 2025.
However, the injury context is important. Clark, 29, said he needed surgery in January to correct a foot injury suffered during the Packers’ Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles last season. After producing 7.5 sacks, 66 pressures, 16 quarterback hits and nine tackles for loss in 2023, Clark’s production dropped to 1.0 sack, 34 pressures, five quarterback hits and four tackles for loss in 2024. It represented a stunning lack of impact from the Pro Bowler. Injuries are a part of pro football, but Clark said the injury affected him “a lot” throughout the season. A foot injury for a 314-pound player who wins with power and explosiveness ended up being crippling.
From Fowler: “The durable Clark started all 17 games for the third straight season but was unable to build on a strong statistical 2023 that saw him record a career 7.5 sacks and reach his third Pro Bowl. Clark told reporters in June that he played the entire 2024 season through a foot injury sustained Week 1 in Brazil. Set to begin his 10th season with the Packers, the 29-year-old Clark seeks a healthier journey in 2025.”
Might Clark regain his status as a top interior defender?
The three-time Pro Bowler has played a lot of football in his career and might be past his physical prime, but he’s been a disruptive player throughout his career when healthy and a bounce back season should be expected if he can avoid a debilitating injury in 2025. The Packers need one from Clark, who will once again be a key part of Jeff Hafley’s defensive line. Losing Clark’s pressure production was at least one part why the Packers struggled at times to consistently disrupt the quarterback in 2024.
The top 10 defensive lineman entering 2025:
The Packers want a bounce back season from Clark, obviously. But it will also be interesting to see if Devonte Wyatt, a 2022 first-round pick who just had his fifth-year option picked up, can put himself in contention for a spot in the preseason 2026 rankings with a big fourth NFL season. He was pushing toward a breakout season to start 2024 but suffered an ankle injury in Week 4. Wyatt has elite pass-rushing potential from the inside if he can stay healthy and take a step forward in 2025.
This article originally appeared on Packers Wire: Packers’ Kenny Clark falls out of top 10 DL rankings after injury-plagued 2024 season
Reporting by Zach Kruse, Packers Wire / Packers Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
