It is no secret that several Green Bay Packers players, unfortunately, were playing through injuries for most of the 2024 NFL season. Star quarterback Jordan Love, for example, not only sprained his MCL in Week One, but also suffered a groin injury in the middle of the year. These injuries limited his mobility and, at times, led to poor decision making because he could not move the way that he wanted to.
While Jaire Alexander‘s knee injury stole headlines for the majority of the second half of the season, many forget that he, too, battled a groin injury early in the season. Luke Musgrave missed substantial time with an ankle injury and Lukas Van Ness played over half of the season with a broken thumb.
Kenny Clark, the three-time Pro Bowl defensive tackle, was also a weekly inclusion on the injury report. However, he did not miss any time, though his production was clearly not what fans expected from him. As it turns out, no one outside of the Packers’ organization knew how bad his injury was.
Green Bay Packers Pro Bowler Kenny Clark Needed Offseason Surgery
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) with defensive end Rashan Gary (52) and linebacker Quay Walker (7)
Nov 28, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) celebrates sacking Miami Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa with defensive end Rashan Gary (52) and linebacker Quay Walker (7) at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Dan Powers-Imagn Images
Prior to the 2024 season, Clark was the recipient of a rare third contract extension from the Packers. Indeed, it is not often that Green Bay gives their homegrown talent more than two contracts, the first of which is their rookie deal. However, after a Pro Bowl season in 2023 that saw him record a career-high 7.5 sacks, the Packers obviously thought he was worth keeping around even longer.
Unfortunately, though, Clark had just 1.0 sacks in 2024 and saw his total tackles drop from 44 in 2023 to 37. This dip in production led many fans to say that he had “regressed.” As it turns out, however, he was playing virtually the whole season on a broken toe.
Now, a broken toe may not seem very serious. But for a defensive lineman whose strengths are being explosive off the snap and overpowering offensive linemen with brute strength, it was obviously debilitating.
Clark told reporters on Tuesday that he broke his toe during Green Bay’s Week One loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. Not only did he break the toe, but it also required surgery when the season was finally over.
“I had surgery on my foot in January,” Clark said.
When asked how the broken toe impacted his play, he answered, “A lot.”
Green Bay Packers Fans Finally Understand Why Kenny Clark Appeared to Regress
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) celebrates after tackling Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields
Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark (97) celebrates after tackling Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Field, bottom left, in the fourth quarter during their football game Sunday, October 17, 2021, at Soldier Field in Chicago, Ill. Green Bay won 24-14.Dan Powers/USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin
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As mentioned, many fans spent last season saying the Clark had regressed. Many began to think that Green Bay had made a mistake by giving him a third contract.
Now, however, fans are walking back those comments:
This explains a lot. KC is such a consistent force and an EXTREMELY underrated player. Get healthy this year, cause our DLINE NEEDS YOU BIG DAWG https://t.co/QuavBZZPMO
— Nick Sutor (@SutorMcGavin) June 3, 2025
Looks like it wasn’t a “regression” for Kenny Clark as many were saying but a bunion/bone spur issue that probably didn’t do him any favors all season… https://t.co/RiiVIfeeqX
— Greg Meinholz 🧀 (@gmeinholz) June 3, 2025
This could explain the down year.. https://t.co/qNjvt09oRP
— Ama Deisel (@amar3455) June 3, 2025
Well that might explain the down season then
Lets see Kenny back to his old self this season!! https://t.co/YMJbQqvIVQ
— Positively Packers (@Pack2theFuture) June 3, 2025
Everything makes sense now. https://t.co/iMYshYJKJf
— Todd (@bleacherbum099) June 3, 2025
As mentioned, Clark did not miss a single one of the Packers’ 17 regular season games last season. In fact, he has not missed a game since Week 15 of 2021.
Fortunately, the three-time Pro Bowler was able to get the injury cleaned up in the offseason and is in camp fully healthy.
He can make a lot of people look foolish by returning to form in 2025.
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