After not playing a single snap in the 2023 season due to an ACL tear during training camp, New York Jets safety Chuck Clark has had a very solid start to his 2024 campaign.
Ahead of the team’s Week 4 matchup on Sunday, Jets head coach Robert Saleh praised Clark.
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“He’s not the quarterback, but hadn’t played football in over a year, had a significant lower leg injury, so there’s a comfort and mental barrier he’s got to get through,” Saleh stated. “He still needs to get his legs underneath him, and with each passing week, he’s gotten better, so I’m fully expecting him to get better as the weeks go on, but it’s good to see him having some production.”
The Baltimore Ravens traded Clark to the Jets in March 2023 in exchange for a 2024 seventh-round pick. However, Clark tore his ACL during OTAs, forcing him to be sidelined for the entirety of the 2023 season.
A projected starter going into 2023, the Jets re-signed Clark to a one-year deal in 2024, and he retained his starting role going into the season. Through three games, he has served as a primary contributor to the Jets’ defense, notching 16 tackles, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery, and a sack while boasting a run defense grade of 85.9 at Pro Football Focus.
However, Clark has looked a step slow at times in coverage, although speed has never been his calling card (4.54 forty time in 2017). This was particularly apparent on a play in Week 2 against Tennessee, where he was late getting over to defend a pass thrown Sauce Gardner’s way, resulting in a touchdown. Clark has a 51.7 coverage grade at PFF.
I can hardly get on Sauce for this. Tough to cover it much better. Ball miraculously slips through. Maybe could've made a better play on it but this is just a bad break.
Clark's lack of speed at FS shows though. I think most other safeties would have deflected or picked this pic.twitter.com/VV8Ch1alU9
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) September 17, 2024
Fortunately, as Saleh pointed out, Clark appears to be trending up. Clark followed up the Tennessee game with his best performance as a Jet so far. In New York’s Week 3 win over New England, Clark posted a season-high seven tackles, a sack, and a forced fumble that he also recovered.
Not something you see often from the Jets: A safety blitz for the sack. Chuck Clark flying in. pic.twitter.com/zJs8BAKHKs
— Michael Nania (@Michael_Nania) September 20, 2024
Clark and the Jets’ defensive unit look to continue their momentum this Sunday as the Jets host the Denver Broncos.
