Chuck

Clark

Campbell said that Branch hasn’t had any setbacks in his recovery from a torn Achilles, but wouldn’t put a timeline on the 24-year-old safety’s eventual return. Branch attended practice in a T-shirt and shorts on Thursday. Campbell jokingly set the timetable for Branch to return in December, just so the media would stop asking about it. Christian Izien and Chuck Clark continue to take the first-team safety reps for the Lions in practice with Branch and Kerby Joseph (knee) sidelined.

Clark will be veteran depth as the Lions figure out where they’ll be early in the season with Kerby Joseph (knee) and Brian Branch (Achilles) being in doubt for Week 1. Clark played 437 defensive snaps for the Steelers last year and was an exceptional run defender, notching an 83.1 PFF run defense grade.

The Steelers also released Chuck Clark, CB James Pierre, OG Max Scharping, WR Ke’Shawn Williams, WR Brandon Johnson, DT Domenique Davis and waived CB Beanie Bishop and S Sebastian Castro. The Steelers placed CB Cory Trice on injured reserve with a designation to return.

Clark missed Weeks 7-10 with an ankle injury last year but recorded 45 tackles, one quarterback pressure, one sack and one pass breakup while active. The team correspondingly waived DT Domenique Davis.

He’ll miss at least four games after leaving Monday night’s loss to the Bills. Clark had 17 solo tackles and one pass defensed for the Jets in six starts. Ashtyn Davis replaced him in the lineup after he left and would seem likely to step in to a starting role in Clark’s absence.

Clark was dealt to the Jets from the Ravens last offseason with the opportunity to start in the secondary. However, a torn ACL prior to the start of the season saw Clark miss all of 2023. The 28-year-old was a sixth-round pick in 2017 and became a starter for the Ravens, notching a career-high 61 solo tackles in 2022. The arrival of Kyle Hamilton pushed Clark out, leading to his trade to the Jets. Now presumably healthy, Clark will try and earn a role with the Jets again for 2024.

This was an unfortunate but likely outcome for Clark after the issue was previously reported to be “serious” and possibly season-ending. Clark played on nearly every defensive snap for the Ravens in each of the past three seasons. He was then acquired by the Jets via trade this offseason. After Clark went down, the Jets signed former Packers safety Adrian Amos to a one-year deal. Depending on the severity of the knee issue, Clark could be ready for the start of the 2024 season.

Acquired in a trade with the Ravens in March, Clark, 28, reportedly sustained the knee injury during New York’s minicamp. Rosenblatt said it appears to be a long-term injury that could cost Clark most or all of the 2023 season. The Jets signed former Packers S Adrian Amos shortly after Clark went down. The Clark injury is a blow to a Jets secondary graded by PFF as last season’s third best coverage unit.

Clark, a reliable if unspectacular defender, hasn’t missed a snap in three seasons -- a remarkable feat for any player, much less a veteran like Clark, entering his age-28 season. The Ravens save $4.1 million against the salary cap by dealing Clark to New York. He’ll join a Jets defense graded by Pro Football Focus as last year’s best coverage unit.

Clark was rumored to be on the trade block last offseason after Baltimore signed Marcus Williams and drafted Kyle Hamilton in the first round. He enters the final year of his contract extension with a $6.7 million cap hit. Baltimore could save $3.4 million by cutting Clark or $4.1 million by trading him. Clark has been steady, if not sensational, over the past four years for the Ravens in a major role.