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Rob Demovsky
GREEN BAY, Wis. — Not lengthy after the Inexperienced Bay Packers‘ season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles final season in São Paulo, Brazil, three-time Professional Bowl defensive sort out Kenny Clark bashed the sphere situations at Area Corinthians, the place the sport was performed.
9 months later, it turned clearer simply why Clark felt so strongly on the time. He revealed Tuesday after a Packers OTA apply that he underwent surgical procedure in January shortly after the season to repair an issue together with his proper foot that he mentioned began in Brazil.
Regardless of taking part in in all 17 regular-season video games plus the playoff loss to the Eagles, Clark was bothered many of the season by a toe damage he sustained within the opener. He was listed on the damage report with a toe damage at a number of factors final season.
Clark mentioned the damage occurred when he received his proper foot caught within the turf, which was an issue for a number of gamers through the Brazil sport.
“It was actually simply the turf on the market,” Clark mentioned. “Just like the turf just about, yeah.”
He mentioned he handled a bunion and bone spurs, which led to the surgical procedure.
When requested Tuesday whether or not the poor subject situations on the stadium usually used for soccer brought on his damage, Clark mentioned, “I ain’t going to reply that query. Yeah, I received all of the Brazilians on me, so.”
Clark was referring to the response to feedback he made on USA In the present day’s “Clubhouse Dwell” final September shortly after the Brazil sport. On the time, he mentioned of the sphere: “It was trash, man. I’ve performed in snow, I’ve performed in rain, I ain’t by no means performed on a floor like that. … There was like clay popping out of the bottom. You bought holes within the floor. It was a tricky floor to play on.”
Clark posted his lowest sort out whole since his rookie season of 2006 and had just one sack all season after totaling 15.5 over the earlier three seasons mixed. Clark simply started doing particular person drills throughout OTA practices this week. Beforehand, he had spent many of the offseason program rehabbing or working off to the facet.
“It was a tricky yr for me,” Clark mentioned. “I had surgical procedure on my foot in January, so yeah, it was a tricky yr. However I am excited. I am again out working towards, again doing [individual drills], so at the moment was my second day doing indy with the crew, and simply should hold constructing ahead.”
The Packers-Eagles sport was the primary NFL sport performed in Brazil. The Los Angeles Chargers and Kansas Metropolis Chiefs will play there this yr on Sept. 5.
Additionally Tuesday, cornerback Keisean Nixon mentioned he stays open to the opportunity of returning kickoffs and that he regrets feedback he made instantly after the 2024 season indicating in any other case.
Nixon, an All-Professional kickoff returner in 2022 and 2023, mentioned the day after the Packers’ 22-10 playoff loss to the Eagles that he is “sort of by means of with” returning kicks. Nixon had a unique tackle the topic Tuesday.
“In fact, I am open to it,” Nixon mentioned. “I am all the time going to do what the crew wants.”
Nixon’s reluctance about returning kicks stemmed partially from his growing function on protection. Nixon mentioned on the time that “I need to be CB1” and added that “CB1 just isn’t doing kick returns. That is simply what it’s.”
“That is a remark I most likely might have stored to myself, for certain, however it’s what it’s,” Nixon mentioned Tuesday. “I meant what I mentioned, however I am additionally a crew participant. And if the coach and the crew want me to do one thing, I’ll do it, for certain.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
