The Dallas Cowboys were on a wild ride as the game against the Washington Commanders turned out to be an all-out domination rather than a close contest. The Cowboys won the one-sided affair 44-22, but an injury scare to DT Kenny Clark almost ruined the night for the Cowboys.

The jolt came at the 2:35 mark in the third quarter when Clark injured his elbow. He remained on the ground for a few seconds before getting up and walking straight into the medical tent. His status for the game was marked as questionable. But he later returned to the game, informing that things were “all good.” For a Cowboys team already stretched thin in the defensive tackle position, it was a huge relief. Not to mention, it wasn’t the first time Clark had an injury scare this season.

He injured his ankle in the Week 3 game against the Chicago Bears. That injury also happened in the 3rd quarter with 1 minute 41 seconds remaining. Even then, the Cowboys had marked his status as questionable for the game before he returned.

However, in that game, he had one tackle, unlike in Week 7, when he had no stats. The 6-foot-3, 314-pound player arrived as an exchange player for Micah Parsons. While he might not have the same talent or numbers as DE, he is tough. Last year, he injured his toe in the season opener but went on to play for the entire season before undergoing surgery in the offseason.

Kenny Clark’s toe injury took its toll

The defensive tackle said the problem in his foot began during the Packers’ 2024 season-opening game in Brazil against the Philadelphia Eagles. That game was played at Arena Corinthians, and Clark had criticized the poor field conditions right after the game. He explained that his right foot got stuck in the turf, which caused a toe injury that bothered him all season.

Even though he played all 17 regular-season games and one playoff game, the pain never really went away. Later, doctors found he had a bunion and bone spurs, and that’s why he needed surgery after the season. However, the toe injury had already done its damage.

He had the fewest tackles since his rookie year and only one sack, after having 15.5 sacks over the previous three seasons. “It was a tough year for me,” he said back in June this year. “But I’m excited to be back doing drills again and just building forward.”

Knowing how poor the Cowboys’ defense has been this year, Clark’s form and fitness will be crucial for Dallas. With Week 7 football done, only time will tell whether Clark will live up to his potential this season or not.