The Green Bay Packers defense made major strides in 2024 under Jeff Hafley. After being the Achilles heel of the team for years, the former Boston College head coach made this unit into one of the better ones in the league. However, not everyone had a great year. The defensive line struggled to create pressure. Most notably, defensive star Kenny Clark did not have a great year. Fans were worried that the former first-round pick didn’t fit in the system or that he was starting to decline. However, he revealed on Tuesday that he was dealing with a foot injury all season and had to have offseason surgery.
Green Bay Packers Kenny Clark Injury News
Kenny Clark said he had foot surgery in January. Injured his foot in opener against Eagles and played through it all year. How much did the injury affect him last fall?
“A lot.” pic.twitter.com/pZpRxOlmLZ
— Ryan Wood (@ByRyanWood) June 3, 2025
There was a ton of focus on Jordan Love’s injury in the week 1 game in Brazil against the Philadelphia Eagles. Many fans and analysts blasted the NFL for the poor playing conditions, saying it could lead to major injuries. Love wasn’t the only Packer to deal with an injury all year. Kenny Clark revealed that he suffered a foot injury that required offseason surgery. He was asked how much it affected him. “A lot. I hurt it in the Brazil game,” said the veteran player. “It was just the turf out there.”
Last season was his worst since his rookie year, when he only started two games. The three-time Pro-Bowler only had one sack and five quarterback hits. All of the advanced stats pointed to a major decline in production. If he was dealing with a foot injury, it makes sense as to why he was hampered. If he is healthy, the rest of the NFC will have to watch out.
The Packers Need More Pressure
There is one aspect the defense needs to improve on: the pass rush. The Green Bay Packers have invested heavily in this group, spending first-round picks on Rashan Gary (who also got a massive extension), Devonte Wyatt, and Lukas Van Ness. If Kenny Clark is 100% healthy, he could draw more double teams, allowing others to get one-on-one matchups.
The Eagles showed in the Super Bowl what a dominant line could do to an elite team. NFL quarterbacks are too good when you give them time. If the Packers are going to usurp the Detroit Lions in the NFC North and hold off the Vikings and Bears, they need their defensive line to play better. All eyes will be on Clark in 2025 as fans hope for a comeback year.
