Frank Clark has the best excuse for missing KC Chiefs minicamp

Defensive end Frank Clark has the best excuse of all for missing mandatory minicamp for the Kansas City Chiefs this week.

For those who’ve been watching mandatory minicamp for the Kansas City Chiefs, one big name has been missing from the list despite the “mandatory” description involved. However, even as pass-rusher Frank Clark has been gone from the action, he’s got a great reason for staying away from Arrowhead these days: he’s going to be a father soon.

The Chiefs’ defensive end is a vital cog in the team’s defense this season as the only experienced starting defensive end on the roster. The team has likely slotted rookie George Karlaftis opposite of Clark in the base defense, and other faces like Michael Danna and Joshua Kaindoh, and Malik Herring can help rotate in, but Clark is more important for this coming season than any since he first arrived in Kansas City.

Clark and the Chiefs found a way to work things out for another season despite a looming cap hit that seemed to be untenable. Both sides worked out a restructured deal that kept Clark anchoring one side of the line. Clark has been to the Pro Bowl in each of the last three seasons for the Chiefs, but he had only 4.5 sacks last season to go with 2 forced fumbles and 11 hurries.

The Chiefs have mandatory minicamp through Thursday, June 16, before setting players free until training camp, which will begin in late July at St. Joseph, Missouri—the biggest break of the offseason for players.