Frank

Clark Sr.

Also inactive for the Seahawks are LB Frank Clark, WR Dareke Young, OT McClendon Curtis, OT Raiqwon O’Neal, and DT Cameron Young. Walker was listed as doubtful entering the Thanksgiving night game and will miss at least Week 12 with an oblique injury. Zach Charbonnet will take over the Seahawks backfield against the 49ers. Frank Clark is notably a healthy scratch as the Seahawks decide they will not need his pass rush abilities this week.

Clark will immediately join the Seahawks’ 53-man roster upon passing a physical. Clark was signed by the Broncos in the offseason after the Chiefs cut him to get rid of his bloated contract. Things didn’t work out in Denver and he was released after no team wanted to trade for him despite Clark agreeing to a pay cut. He visited with the Chiefs, but a different reunion ultimately materialized. Clark spent the first four years of his career in Seattle and now returns to provide an immediate boost to a pass-rush that just lost Uchenna Nwosu to a season-ending injury.

Clark is the second EDGE to part with the Broncos this month, after the team release Randy Gregory as part of an apparent roster teardown. Clark played just two games with the Broncos. He gave back $1.7 million last week as part of a contract restructure, setting the table for his release. Denver’s defense is trending toward being historically bad in 2023. Clark, 30, will surely land with another team in non time.

Yates’ report comes just minutes after NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo reported Clark taking a pay cut to lower his base salary down to $841k for the remainder of the season — making him a cheap acquisition for any team interested in a trade. Clark reportedly gave back $1.679 million as part of his contract restructure, as the veteran pass rusher will now try to find a new home. Clark has only appeared in two games for the Broncos this year and has yet to register a sack, but can serve as a valuable veteran pass rusher for a contender. As they did with Randy Gregory, the Broncos will likely try to trade Clark in what is on the verge of being a rebuilding season in the first year under Sean Payton.

Clark has reportedly drawn interest from other teams around the league, so the timing of his illness is somewhat suspicious. The Broncos are embarking on a youth movement as their season circles the drain and Clark could fetch them a notable draft pick from a contender. The defense will also be without D.J. Jones and Baron Browning.

Also DNP for the Broncos was DT D.J. Jones. LB Baron Browning, DT Mike Purcell, S Justin Simmons, and LB Justin Strnad were all limited. Denver’s defense has struggled this season and getting all these defenders back to full health will be key. Clark and company will work to play for Week 6 against the Chiefs on Thursday.

Rapoport noted that the Broncos could explore a trade for Clark if they continue to struggle. Given how poorly their defense has played through four weeks, that remains the expectation. The team already moved on from Randy Gregory before Sean Payton said they were planning on getting younger players more involved. Despite Russell Wilson’s turnaround, this is bordering on a lost season for the Broncos.

Simmons has been out since Week 3 with a hip issue, getting two limited practices last week. He starts out limited again this week, with the hope that he can return and boost a porous Broncos secondary. EDGE Frank Clark, LB Josey Jewell, DT Mike Purcell, and LB Baron Browning were all also limited for the Broncos defense, which needs all the healthy bodies it can get.

Denver’s defense — fresh off giving up 70 points to the Dolphins — remains banged up, with Clark and two starting safeties sidelined. It’s a potential boon for the down-bad Bears passing offense as the team looks to salvage the season.

Simmons was limited in practice on Wednesday and Thursday. He was then downgraded to a DNP on Friday, making it unlikely he will be able to suit up on Sunday. The Broncos defense has arguably been the worst in the league this year and is set to be without one of their top play-makers for Week 4. It’s now or never for Justin Fields. Denver ruled out Mike Purcell, Josey Jewell, and Frank Clark.