Was the Packers’ defensive tackle hurt or getting old in 2024? Or both?
Kenny Clark found himself in a significantly different defensive system for the first time in 2024. Until that point, he’d played in variations of a 3-4 scheme, but Jeff Hafley’s arrival heralded a switch to a 4-3.
Though differences between those two schools are primarily cosmetic at this point in NFL history, it was fair to wonder the extent to which the switch could affect Clark. Across the board declines in just about every statistical category seemed to give an answer, until earlier this offseason, when Clark revealed a Week 1 toe injury had affected him virtually all season long.
So, which is it? Did the scheme affect Clark that much, or did his injured foot weigh down his 2024 season? Was it both?
Or was it neither? Is it possible that Clark’s decline has as much to do with age as it does the Packers’ defensive scheme or his foot injury?
Clark is years past being the impossibly young player he once was. He couldn’t yet buy a beer when he played his first NFL game, but he’ll turn 30 this fall. Decline is inevitable. Did it start last year? Or were the other factors really to blame?
I’d like to say we’ll find out this fall, but Clark’s inevitable age-related issues will have to arrive at some point. Whatever happens this fall might confuse the picture as much as anything.
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Whatever the cause of Clark’s decline in 2024, he’s got to be better in 2025.
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