Injured Kenny Clark Helps Packers’ Defense Deliver Pain vs. Rams

Two key Packers starters, Kenny Clark and Christian Watson, were knocked out of Sunday’s victory over the Rams due to injuries.

GREEN BAY, Wis. – Green Bay Packers defensive tackle Kenny Clark said he’ll have tests done on his injured shoulder on Monday.

“I’ll be all right. We’ve got to get these tests and get it figured out,” Clark said following a 20-3 victory over the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday.

Clark was injured late in the first half. He said he “tried to forklift a guy” and felt the shoulder tighten. He watched the second half from the sideline as Green Bay snapped a four-game losing streak. The defense led the way as it overcame the loss of five starters with linebacker Quay Walker and safety Rudy Ford inactive, safety Darnell Savage on injured reserve, cornerback Rasul Douglas traded and Clark out for the final 30-plus minutes.

“Man, it was awesome,” Clark said of a defensive performance that limited the Rams to three points, 187 yards and 10 first downs. “A lot of work was put into the week and we had a lot of guys step up this week with the trade and with all the injuries on the back end and myself. To see all the guys step up, make plays, playing fast, that’s what you want to see.”

Green Bay’s victory comes with the obvious asterisk that quarterback Matthew Stafford was inactive with an injured thumb. Would the Packers have won without Brett Rypien’s first-quarter fumble setting up a touchdown and his fourth-quarter interception setting up another field goal?

Whatever. The Packers haven’t been healthy for most of the season and Rypien had his full group of weapons, including the premier receiving tandem of Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua.

“They’ve got a lot of playmakers,” Clark said. “They’ve got two great receivers on their side of the ball, they’ve been running the ball well all year. We definitely had our hands full with a lot of their weapons.

Packers DT Kenny Clark's day ended in the second quarter :: Photo by Mark Hoffman/USA Today Sports Images

“At the end of the day, we did what we were supposed to do. We played a backup quarterback. Anytime you’re playing a backup quarterback, it’s expected that you make plays. We did what we were supposed to do.”

That started with stopping the run. A week after the Packers limited the Vikings to just 62 yards on 31 carries, they did the same in holding the Rams to 68 yards on 26 attempts with a long run of just 8 yards. That’s a 2.3-yard average the last two games.

What’s been working so well in curing a longtime weakness?

“We’ve been doing a lot of movement up front, but that’s the same thing we’ve been doing all year, honestly,” Clark said. “It was good to have DC [De’Vondre Campbell] back. [Isaiah] McDuffie played a hell of a game with his [two] TFLs, with his [seven] tackles.

“At the end of the day, it’s just a mentality and everybody knowing exactly what run gap they’ve got and understanding that’s what teams are going to want to do. When it’s a close game and it’s back and forth, all teams are going to try to do is continue to run the ball on us and try to shorten the game. We’ve got to understand that as a defense and keep playing to that style and fit the run. We’ve been doing a really good job.”

Sitting at his locker and checking out his phone long after his interview session was complete would seem to indicate Clark wasn’t particularly worried. The Packers are, if only because of Clark’s enormous importance to the team as a player, leader and tone-setter.

“Anytime a guy can’t finish a game, you’re very concerned,” coach Matt LaFleur said. “As far as long term, I would say there’s not a lot of concern there. He’s as important as anybody to our team and, specifically, to our defense. He is an elite player, and he does it not only by what he puts out on the field each and every week but by his actions. I know he’s a soft-spoken leader, but he is a leader, nonetheless.”

The Packers will hold their breath on one more injured player.

Receiver Christian Watson made his best play of the year, a leaping 37-yard catch that set up the clinching touchdown, but was helped off the field with chest and back injuries and a potential concussion.

“We feel good that he’s not concussed,” LaFleur said. “I think he landed on the ball. We’re going through everything.”

Right guard Jon Runyan and nickel/returner Keisean Nixon briefly exited with injuries but returned to the lineup.

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