No. 8 — Kenny Clark

The Green Bay Packers went 11-6 last season, sweeping the NFC West and the AFC South along the way.

Overall, though, no one in the building was happy.

The Packers failed to build on their terrific finish to the 2023 campaign, settled for the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoffs, and lost a Wild Card game to eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia.

Afterwards, general manager Brian Gutekunst turned up the heat on everybody in the building.

“We need to continue to ramp up our sense of urgency,” Gutekunst said. “I think it’s time we started competing for championships.”

Those are fair expectations.

The Packers return 20 of 22 starters, and appear to have upgraded the roster via free agency and the draft. With several third and fourth year players trending upward, Green Bay should be poised to make a move.

“I think they’re ready,” Gutekunst said.

Now, it’s time for the Packers to prove their G.M. right.

Green Bay’s first training camp practice is July 23. Between now and then I will count down the ‘30 Most Important Packers’ heading into the 2025 campaign.

At No. 8 is defensive tackle Kenny Clark.

No. 8

Kenny Clark, DT

Last season

Clark played most of the 2024 campaign with a right foot injury that slowed him throughout and needed to be surgically repaired in January.

“It was tough,” Clark said. “It was a tough year for me.”

Clark suffered the injury during the Packers’ Week 1 loss to Philadelphia in São Paulo, Brazil. Afterwards, Clark was critical of the field conditions at Arena Corinthians, where the game was held.

“It was trash, man,” Clark said. “I’ve played in snow. I’ve played in rain. I ain’t never played on a surface like that. There was like clay coming out of the ground. You got holes in the ground. It was a tough surface to play on.”

Playing the rest of the season with a foot injury was also brutal for Clark.

Clark described the injury as “like a bunion, bone spurs.” And it dramatically affected his production.

Clark’s 37 tackles were his fewest since his rookie season in 2016, when he started just two games. His one sack and five quarterback hits were also his fewest since 2016, and he finished with just four tackles for loss.

Career to date

Clark was an All-American nose tackle at UCLA before entering the NFL at just 20 years old in 2016.

Clark played nose tackle his first seven years in Green Bay before moving to defensive end in 2023. He then moved back to defensive tackle in 2024 when the Packers switched their base defense to a 4-3.

Clark ranks 10th on the Packers’ all-time sack list with 35.0, just 1.0 behind ninth place Tony Bennett (36.0). Clark also has five career postseason sacks, which ranks fourth in team history and No. 8 in the NFL from 2019-‘24.

Clark has led or tied for the lead on the defensive line in tackles in seven of his first nine years with the Packers. Among those listed as a defensive lineman or defensive tackle by Stathead.com, he was one of only five players to post 40-plus tackles and multiple sacks in each season from 2017-22.

Outlook

If the Packers can get Clark back on track, their inconsistent defensive line could take a step up in 2025.

Clark had a career-high 7.5 sacks in 2023, which ranked third on the team. Clark also led the Packers with nine tackles for loss that season.

Clark added 16 quarterback hits, had two forced fumbles, three passes defensed and didn’t miss a game in 2023. Green Bay’s pass defense was 0.51 yards per play better when Clark on the field in 2023, and its run defense was 0.18 yards per play better with Clark playing.

Clark earned his third trip to the Pro Bowl that season, joining Henry Jordan (1960-61, 1963, 1966) as the only Packers defensive tackles to make three-plus Pro Bowls.

Green Bay then signed Clark to a three-year, $64 million contract extension in July, 2024.

“He is a model player that you kind of want to build a program around,” Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst said of Clark. “Obviously he’s a great player, has been as consistent as you could ever imagine. We’re just really excited to kind of be able to extend him and let him lead that group for the foreseeable future.”

After a subpar 2024, though, many wondered if Clark had hit the wall.

Now, Clark and the Packers are hoping better health leads to a big 2025.

“Yeah, I’m excited. I’m so excited to play ball,” Clark said. “It’s going to be a huge year, I’m excited about it.”

They Said It …

“Every step, you know what I’m saying. You’re taking every step and the toe is busting. It’s something you’ve got to deal with, but it is what it is. That’s done. I got the surgery done, and yeah, we’re moving forward.” — Clark on his foot injury that required surgery in January

“Kenny’s just a pro’s pro. He loves football. To play as long as he has at the level that he has, you’ve got to love it. He certainly loves football and he’s an unselfish team guy. He’s all about winning. He is the exact example of the kind of guys we want in that locker room.” — Packers general manager Brian Gutekunst on Clark

“I’ve been watching Kenny since I was in college. When I got drafted, he was the first person to call me. When I got here, he was the first person who made me feel like I was part of this team and part of the family. I really appreciate him. I’ve got a lot of respect for him.” — Packers defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt on Clark

“Ever since I came in, I was watching him and taking notes and soaking everything in. He’s a leader by example.” — Packers defensive tackle Karl Brooks on Clark

THE TOP 30

• No. 30 — RB MarShawn Lloyd

• No. 29 — WR Dontayvion Wicks

• No. 28 — S Javon Bullard

• No. 27 — WR Savion Williams

• No. 26 — LB Isaiah McDuffie

• No. 25 — OL Jordan Morgan

• No. 24 — WR Matthew Golden

• No. 23 — CB Carrington Valentine

• No. 22 — WR Romeo Doubs

• No. 21 — QB Malik Willis

• N0. 20 — DE Lukas Van Ness

• No. 19 — RG Sean Rhyan

• No. 18 — LT Rasheed Walker

• No. 17 — DT Devonte Wyatt

• No. 16 — S Evan Williams

• No. 15 — CB Nate Hobbs

• No. 14 — LB Quay Walker

• No. 13 — OL Aaron Banks

• No. 12 — CB Keisean Nixon

• No. 11 — K Brandon McManus

• No. 10 — TE Tucker Kraft

• No. 9 — WR Jayden Reed