Mike McCarthy provides high praise for Damone Clark amid injury recovery

Good news came out of Dallas on Wednesday, as the Cowboys announced that they started the three-week practice window for rookie linebacker Damone Clark. The LSU product has been on the Non-Football Injury since the start of training camp after undergoing spinal fusion surgery this offseason.

The move has many in the organization eager to see what Clark can do, including coach Mike McCarthy.

“I’ll say this, we’re all excited about him,” McCarthy said according to The Athletic’s Jon Machota. “How can you not? You see obviously the player he was in college coming out and, more importantly, just how he’s been since he’s been here. This young man is here every day. I’m talking, on the weekend, he’s here all the time. He’s ready.

“I think our medical staff and Damone himself, the patience has been tough, because just how the injury unfolded and so forth. My point is, I think the rehab process is complete. And I’m personally happy we waited as long as we did, because now this young man can jump in there full speed.”

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Clark led the SEC and finished second in the country with 135 tackles his senior season. However, he realized in March that he would need spinal fusion surgery to repair a herniated disk. This caused him to fall down draft boards and allowed the Cowboys to get what they believe was a steal in the fifth round.

The Cowboys can remove Damone Clark from the Non-Football Injury list at any point within the next three weeks. If they do not do so by then, he will spend the remainder of the season on the list. McCarthy warned fans to be “realistic” in their expectations, as Clark’s health is ultimately what is most important.

“He hasn’t put on pads (since last season at LSU), so let’s be realistic about that,” McCarthy said. “It’ll be good to get him out there working. I’d like to see where he is at the end of the week, but in a lot of ways he’s like a guy that just showed up at training camp and missed ramp-up and missed the whole offseason program. He just needs the work. It’ll be great to have him out there.”

If he joins the roster this season, Clark would play alongside linebackers Micah Parsons and Leighton Vander Esch, who have combined for 41 tackles and five sacks. The Cowboys are set for a big matchup against the Rams in Week 5, with kickoff scheduled for 4:25 p.m. ET.