Frank Clark is limited in Chiefs practice with knee injury
By Matt Conner
The Chiefs are working with Frank Clark on a limited basis in practice this week due to a knee issue.
The Kansas City Chiefs are dealing with a number of injuries at this point in the season as they prepare to host the Carolina Panthers in Week 9. This week, pass rusher Frank Clark has been added to the list while dealing with a knee injury.
Clark was first listed on the injury report for Week 9 on Wednesday when he missed all of practice on Wednesday due to a swollen knee. From there, he was able to be limited in practice on Thursday, which is a positive trend, but it’s hard to tell just yet how he will be on Sunday afternoon when the Chiefs and Panthers take the field. In fact, if Clark is given a questionable designation, we might not know if Clark is playing until shortly before the game with the announcement of inactives.
On paper, it makes a bit of sense to sit Clark just in case given that the team’s bye week begins next Monday. Everyone will enjoy a full week of rest and free time after the completion of Sunday’s game. In addition, the Chiefs are 8-1 and sitting in the pole position for the AFC West crown. The team will want their key players healthy for the stretch run and a midseason contest against the Panthers doesn’t count.
However this is not a normal season. The AFC will only have one team with a bye week as it stands, and the Chiefs are one game behind the Pittsburgh Steelers as it is. Plus, Chris Jones just landed on the reserve/COVID list which means that he might not be available for Sunday. That means that the Chiefs could potentially be without two pass rushers getting paid $20 million annually. That’s not good.
The Panthers aren’t exactly a showdown, but Clark is a player who definitely wants to be on the field and the Chiefs can’t afford a slip-up to a clearly inferior team. Perhaps they could put Clark on limited reps or maybe they will have to sit him. Ultimately, here’s hoping Clark feels better in both the short-term and the long-term.