Clark may have dodged serious injury
GREEN BAY - The Green Bay Packers’ run defense will have a massive hurdle to climb if nose tackle Kenny Clark misses significant time with an ankle injury.
Clark was carted off the field in the fourth quarter Sunday after getting bent backward in a pile near the line of scrimmage. His right leg and ankle were trapped beneath another player’s body as Baltimore Ravens guard Ryan Jensen appeared to make the awkward angle worse by shoving Clark toward the ground.
After the Packers loss, safety Ha Ha
Clinton-Dix and cornerback Davon House expressed their displeasure with Jensen’s actions. Clinton-Dix called it a “dirty play.”
Coach Mike McCarthy called the injury “unnecessary” in his Monday news conference.
“The play that Kenny Clark was injured on, I think clearly Kenny is in a compromised position,” McCarthy said. “Obviously you’ve got a physical game going on there on the interior. I thought it was unnecessary, definitely an injury that could have potentially been avoided.”
McCarthy did not have injury updates for Clark, outside linebacker Clay Matthews (groin) or offensive lineman
Justin McCray (ankle), all of whom failed to finish Sunday’s loss to the Ravens. Team doctor Patrick McKenzie was continuing to gather information on the injured players Monday at Lambeau Field.
A report from NFL Network said Xrays on Clark’s ankle came back negative, and it is believed he only suffered a sprain. The severity of the sprain is unknown.
Clark seemed to indicate that he avoided serious injury, tweeting Monday: “Appreciate all the prayers, I’ll be fine.”
Losing Clark for any significant period of time could be devastating to a defense that has played well against the run in recent weeks. Clark has been the most consistent player the Packers have on that side of the ball, and his athleticism in the trenches has paired beautifully with the raw power of defensive end Mike Daniels.
Through 10 games, Clark has 32 tackles (including three tackles for loss), one quarterback hit, one pass defensed and one forced fumble.
“I think he’s having a heck of a year,” McCarthy said. “He’s playing very well, clearly has made the jump from Year 1 to Year 2. You can see the way he finished the season last year, and he’s been extremely consistent, disruptive.”
The most likely replacement for Clark — if necessary — would be defensive tackle Quinton Dial, who could slide in at nose tackle in the base defense. Dial has proved fairly stout against the run but lacks the explosiveness and lateral speed of Clark.
Rookie Montravius Adams, who was inactive against the Ravens, would have to contribute as well. He would be the fourth defensive lineman behind Daniels, Dial and Dean Lowry.
“That’s a challenge,” defensive coordinator Dom Capers said. “Kenny’s been playing extremely well. We’ve liked our matchups with Kenny in there. He gets a lot of double teams in there.”
Keeping faith: It’s a head coach’s job to make sure there aren’t any negative vibes coming from the locker room during a stretch like the one the Packers are going through.
McCarthy said it’s natural for players to question whether the quarterback is holding up his end of the bargain, but he said he has not witnessed or sensed any loss of confidence in Brett Hundley.
“It happens in life,” he said. “You wish it didn’t. People may be whispering over here and you’re aware of what the whispers are. I don’t see any of that. I’m not aware of it.
“Everybody knows what each man puts into this, what these guys do professionally, what they put into particularly with their bodies, and Brett is definitely, he’s probably one of the top guys at doing that. Everybody respects him, so I don’t see any issue with that.”
Rough debut: The first carry of Devante Mays’ career was a fumble. The Packers rookie running back was stashed on the sideline Sunday until getting a second carry near game’s end. That, too, was a fumble.
No, consecutive fumbles are not an ideal way for a running back to open his career. With running back Ty Montgomery’s availability this week uncertain because of a ribs injury and starter
Aaron Jones still weeks from returning from his torn MCL, the Packers might not have much choice but to give Mays another chance Sunday in Pittsburgh.
McCarthy indicated he’ll reset this week for his young running back so Mays can have a fresh start.
“He did some really good things in practice. I was actually excited to see him cut it loose,” McCarthy said. “So he has it, and it’s a transition that every rookie goes through when they get sent into the regular-season games, especially November football too.”
Turnover binge: After turning the ball over five times against the Ravens, the Packers dropped from tied for sixth in turnover margin (plus-six) to tied for 13th (plus-two).
Only eight teams have more interceptions than the Packers’ 10, seven of which are charged to Hundley.
“Everybody that has the responsibility of handling the football,” McCarthy said. “(Recognizing) the importance, the standard that we’ve set here. So, he has to take care of the football. That’s clearly starting point No. 1.”
Holiday homework: The Packers will practice on Thanksgiving this year as preparations continue for Sunday’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers.
McCarthy said the team will practice around 8:30 a.m., in hopes of sending players home to their families by noon.
“We’ll have a lighter practice Wednesday afternoon because then we’ll practice first thing in pads Thursday morning,” McCarthy said. “And then we’ll be on to a little longer Friday than normal. We’ll have the short schedule on Saturday and fly to Pittsburgh.”