On the final play of the final Jets organized group exercise final spring, Chuck Clark felt some ache in his knee.
He ran off the sector and figured it was simply typical soreness. He spent the weekend considering the ache would quickly go away. It didn’t. He had torn his ACL, and his 2023 season was over earlier than it even began.
“I couldn’t consider it when it did occur,” Clark stated Tuesday. “I wasn’t accepting it, you recognize? So, I used to be like, ‘I’m transferring round. It’s simply not true.’ ”
The Jets acquired Clark in March 2023 in a commerce with the Ravens.
They despatched a seventh-round choose on this 12 months’s draft to amass the protection, who admits he got here to the group with a chip on his shoulder.
Jets coaches beloved what they noticed of Clark final spring and have been heartbroken when he went down with the damage. One supply not too long ago pointed to Clark’s damage as the very first thing that went incorrect for the group final 12 months.
Clark spent the season in Florham Park rehabbing his knee and watching his teammates observe and play video games, sidelined for the primary time in his life.
“That was the primary time in 23-plus years that I hadn’t performed soccer within the fall time,” Clark stated. “So simply seeing all people go on the market and line up for video games and getting the sport plan and whatnot, and I used to be seeing it from afar, you recognize, watching via the home windows through the exercises, I believe that that was the hardest half. ”
The Jets re-signed Clark this offseason to a one-year deal price a assured $1.125 million. Clark is projected to begin alongside Tony Adams at security.
Final 12 months, Clark talked about his need to show individuals incorrect after the commerce from the Ravens. He stated he has not misplaced that fireside.
“I imply, I ain’t forgot about that,” Clark stated. “I’ve nonetheless obtained that chip on my shoulder. However I believe going via that damage course of, it simply gave me a brand new gratitude and gratefulness for this recreation. I’ve nonetheless obtained loads to show. I missed the entire 12 months.
“Folks could be like, ‘Oh, he misplaced a step.’ Yeah, all proper. Watch.”
Clark turned expendable in Baltimore after the Ravens drafted Kyle Hamilton within the first spherical in 2022 and signed Marcus Williams in free company. Clark’s taking part in time decreased, and his need to go some other place elevated.
The Jets are enthusiastic about what he can add to an already formidable protection.
“He seems to be good,” coach Robert Saleh stated. “He’s labored his tail off. He’s been right here each day. He didn’t should. Even final 12 months through the season, he didn’t should be right here to rehab, however he was right here and staying related to the group. He’s placing collectively a very good OTA, and [we’re] excited concerning the trajectory at which he’s going.”
Clark was grateful that the Jets needed him again after lacking final season.
“Simply within the brief time that I had final 12 months, in all probability I’d say six weeks to get to indicate what I may do,” Clark stated, “It meant loads for them to hit me again and be like, ‘Hey, man, we would like you again.’ ”
Clark is able to profit from his second likelihood with the group.
“That’s the loopy factor, is like, yeah, I missed a 12 months however you might have a variety of ideas getting in your head,” Clark stated. “Like, man, going into Yr 7 and also you tear your ACL, it’s in all probability one of many worst issues that would occur that we consider as gamers.
“And it’s like, yeah, that occurred, however I knocked that course of down and I’m again and I’m like, all proper, cool.”
