Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark struggled through a disappointing season in 2024. The three-time Pro Bowler had his worst statistical campaign since his rookie year back in 2016. The big question facing Clark and the Packers now is whether this was just a bad year due to changes in the defense and injuries? The big question is now can Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark bounce back in 2025?
Can Packers DT Kenny Clark Bounce Back in 2025: His Career So Far
The Packers selected Clark in the first round of the 2016 NFL Draft using the 27th overall pick. The UCLA alum played in all 16 games as a rookie but only started two of them. He didn’t record any sacks, but did recover two fumbles, knocked down two passes and made one tackle for loss.
By his second season, Clark became a starter, and he has remained one over the last eight seasons in Green Bay.
Clark has also been the team’s best defensive lineman during his tenure in Green Bay. He provided the team with a rare combination of talent for an interior defensive lineman. Clark predominantly played nose tackle and had the ability to both stop the run and get pressure on the quarterback.
Clark earned Pro Bowl honors after the 2019, 2021, and 2023 seasons. He recorded a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023. He also tied his career high with nine tackles for loss and recorded 16 quarterback hits.
A Disappointing Season
Unfortunately, Clark struggled through the 2024 season. After hiring Jeff Hafley, the Packers switched to a four-man line and three linebackers as their base defense. This was an adjustment for many players on the Green Bay defense including Clark.
Hafley’s system was designed to help free up Clark to make more plays and to have him face double coverage on fewer plays. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out that way. Clark recorded just one sack all season, his quarterback hits went down from 16 in 2023 to five in 2024. His tackles for loss fell from nine in 2023 to four last season.
There are several possible reasons for Clark’s struggles. He may have had trouble adjusting to the new defensive system installed by Hafley. After playing in a 3-4 system for all his career, he was thrust into a 4-3 defense.
The other issue was a toe injury that he suffered in Week 1 when the Packers faced the Eagles in Brazil. The injury prevented him from practicing at various times during the season although he never missed a game. The injury prevented him from getting off the snap of the ball as quickly as he usually did. That, in turn, prevented him from penetrating the line and getting an advantage against offensive linemen off the snap of the ball.
Can Packers DT Kenny Clark Bounce Back in 2025: A Critical Year Ahead
It is possible that Clark will return to nose tackle next season. T.J. Slaton signed with the Bengals as a free agent so there is a vacancy there. The Packers could draft a nose tackle or move Clark back to the position he played most of his career.
Clark will need to show 2024 was an anomaly to remain in Green Bay beyond this season. His cap hit will be $20.365 million this year according to overthecap.com. However, in 2026, the cap hit goes up to $31.365 million which is a very high number for a player who is not productive.
The Packers could release Clark or ask him to restructure and take a pay cut if he doesn’t return to his previous form as an upper echelon defensive tackle.
Clark will turn 30 in October of this year. That’s not necessarily old for a defensive tackle, but he has a lot of milage on his body, having played 140 regular season games and 11 playoff games for the Packers over the last nine years. The Packers have to hope he isn’t wearing down and can still play at a high level.
One thing Clark has been in his NFL career is durable. He has not missed a game in the last four seasons and has missed only seven total games in his nine seasons with the Packers.
The Packers will need Clark to return to form in 2025 if the defense is to remain strong.
