Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark aggravates hamstring injury

Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Frank Clark aggravated his hamstring injury during Tuesday’s practice and will undergo an MRI, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero. With more than three weeks left before the season opener against the Cleveland Browns, there is optimism that Clark will be ready for the regular season.

#Chiefs DL Frank Clark aggravated his hamstring in practice today and will undergo an MRI, source said, but with over three weeks to recover before the Sept. 12 opener, there’s optimism he’ll be ready to go.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) August 17, 2021

Clark joined the Chiefs in 2019 and was a key defensive player in the team’s back-to-back Super Bowl appearances. He finished 2020 with 29 tackles and six sacks on his way to a second-consecutive Pro Bowl season.

He signed a five-year deal that runs through 2023 and carries a cap hit of $25.8 million in 2021.

Defensive unit

The Chiefs have a number of options to fill the gap on the defensive line if Frank Clark misses time with the hamstring injury. Rookie Joshua Kaindoh joins veterans Taco Charlton and Alex Okafor as potential replacements.

Clark’s former Seattle Seahawks teammate Jarran Reed joins Kansas City this season and can add a new element to the pass rush from the inside. Reed joins star defensive tackle Chris Jones in the starting lineup with Derrick Nnadi contributing as a regular on the interior of the line.

In addition, Kansas City added two rookies to its group of linebackers as they hope to strengthen the middle of the defense. Former Missouri linebacker Nick Bolton joins Willie Gay and Anthony Hitchens with former South Alabama player Riley Cole looking for a role on the team.

Safety Tyrann Mathieu returns as the leader in the back of the defense with cornerback Charvarius Ward expected to make another leap this season. The defensive backfield returns many of its key members and also adds former Minnesota Vikings cornerback Mike Hughes to the rotation.

2021 outlook

With an overhauled offensive line in front of quarterback Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs look primed to make another run toward the Super Bowl. The offense brings back its core skill players under head coach Andy Reid and has retooled in the areas the team struggled with last season.

The continued improvement on defense will be critical for Kansas City as the Chiefs look to continue their reign in the AFC and win their second championship in three years. Young players join the unit with something to prove and a handful of reclamation projects offer high upside in a deep group of players. Therefore, Clark’s health, along with the health of other leaders like Jones and Mathieu could be a critical factor this year.