Reid hopes Clark is past health issues; Okafor is out for the year
Following Sunday’s 23-3 win over the Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark pointed out that he has turned the corner on his health.
Clark had been dealing with a stomach illness that caused him to miss some practice time the past two weeks and prompted a visit with a specialist last week.
A day after Clark recorded two tackles and two quarterback hits in 46 defensive snaps, Chiefs coach Andy Reid appeared to agree with Clark that the worst is now behind.
“I hope it is,” Reid said Monday during a teleconference. “I think they’re heading in the right direction with it. The fact that he played as well as he did yesterday amazed me.”
Clark has battled through the stomach ailment leading up to the Dec. 8 game at New England and Sunday’s game against Denver, but he played and totaled six tackles, a sack and three quarterback hits in a rotational role, not as a starter.
He logged just 31 of the 66 defensive snaps at New England and the Chiefs wanted to ease him in during the Broncos game, but Alex Okafor’s pectoral injury altered the plans.
Clark’s desire to get on the field also played a role Sunday in his playing time.
“We started off slow with him, but he gets very aggravated with that,” Reid said. “So, you’re better off just letting him get in and go.”
The Chiefs will now need a healthy Clark the rest of the way given Okafor’s situation. The Chiefs also claimed former Ravens and Cardinals pass rusher Terrell Suggs off waivers Monday.
Reid didn’t have an update on Okafor, who played just five snaps Sunday before leaving the game, but said the Chiefs will “know more” as Monday progressed.
After Reid’s teleconference ended, however, the Chiefs claimed Okafor and put Okafor on injured reserve. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported that the Chiefs feared Okafor tore his pectoral muscle.
Okafor, who signed a three-year deal with the Chiefs during the offseason, has battled injuries this season, missing time because of hip and ankle injuries.
When healthy, Okafor has proven productive as part of the pass-rush rotation with five sacks in 10 games.
The Chiefs have Clark, Suggs, Tanoh Kpassagnon and Demone Harris as edge rushers on the roster, while defensive tackle Chris Jones can also play on the outside.
This story was originally published December 16, 2019 at 1:46 PM.
