Defensive tackle Kenny Clark has been one of the more prominent and consistent players on the Packers defense over the past couple of seasons. His dominance up front has helped create plays for the Green Bay defense and has resulted in two Pro Bowl selections for Clark (2019, 2021).
Kenny Clark (27) now becomes one of the “old” guys on the Packers defense as they continue to shift to the youth movement. Clark recently discussed with the media in Green Bay the offseason changes as a whole and what needs to be done to improve the defense going forward.
Kenny Clark on the Packers’ New Look D–Line
Clark was asked a lot about the changes that occurred this offseason, including upfront with his counterparts on the defensive life, as the Packers lost both Jarran Reed and Dean Lowry. The losses of Reed and Lowry now leave a void on the defensive line and the focus shifts to T.J. Slaton and 2022 1st-round pick Devonte Wyatt.

Kenny Clark addressed what Slaton and Wyatt need to do to help make up for the losses on the Packers defense.
“They have to take huge steps. I’m going to be there every day pushing them. We are going make sure they are right by Week 1.”
Clark seemed confident in his demeanor on what more playing time for Slaton and Wyatt means. Regardless of the motivation Clark does bring them by pushing them every day in practice, he added that “At the end of the day its about all the work you put in.”
A Faster Start on the Packers Defense is Key to 2023 Success
The media also talked about what can be done differently this season for the defense to get off to a faster start than they did in 2022.
Kenny Clark said, “Start faster. It starts with tackling and stopping the run. If we can get teams into third and long we feel good about that. On a lot of third and longs last season, we were able to make plays whether it was sacks or turnovers.”
The New Kid on the Block
The Packers also will be having another new face on the defensive line, the 13th overall pick in this April’s draft, Lukas Van Ness. Van Ness and Clark actually trained at the same place for about a month while Van Ness was training for the NFL Combine this spring. Clark was asked what the new addition will bring to the Packers defense.

“He’s versatile, big and strong, and can line up everywhere. He is also is very fast off the ball, so we are excited to develop that and build on it.”
Leadership Needed
This Packers defense still will look very familiar to most, and Kenny Clark knows he will have to be a more vocal leader this season to help it all come together. But the question will remain again can the defense start faster than last year? The team does not have a 4x MVP at Quarterback anymore, so the pressure on the defense will be even higher this season.
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