Seahawks’ Bud Clark gets brutal outlook after preason injury

The Seattle Seahawks received a devastating blow to their secondary on Sunday night. Rookie second-round pick Bud Clark broke his ankle during a preseason matchup against the Tennessee Titans and will miss several months, head coach Mike Macdonald told reporters.

The injury occurred almost immediately. On the very first defensive play at Nissan Stadium, Clark went down awkwardly. Medical staff placed an air cast on his right leg before carting him off the field, instantly dampening the mood for a defense that fully expected the former TCU standout to play a key role this season.

Clark’s brutal injury quickly overshadowed a frustrating game for Seattle. Macdonald rested his starters, and the backups ultimately blew a 13-point lead in a 19-16 loss. Quarterback Drew Lock provided an early spark, throwing for 103 yards and connecting with tight end Elijah Arroyo for a 36-yard touchdown. Running back Jacardia Wright also flashed his explosive potential, breaking loose for a 69-yard touchdown run and finishing the night with 81 rushing yards on just eight carries.

However, the Titans methodically erased the 16-3 deficit. Kicker Joey Slye drilled four field goals, including a massive 55-yarder, before running back D’Ernest Johnson punched in a 2-yard touchdown run with 5:45 remaining to seal the preseason victory for Tennessee.

While preseason scoreboard results mean very little, losing Clark is a massive setback for the organization. Seattle drafted him 64th overall in April to bring his ball-hawking skills to the back of their defense. Now, Macdonald and his coaching staff must scramble to adjust their depth chart and find a new answer at safety just weeks before the regular season kicks off.