Clark recorded a team-high nine tackles, including 0.5 sacks, in Sunday's loss to the Lions.
With Eric Kendricks (calf) sidelined, it was Clark and not DeMarvion Overshown who stepped up as the Cowboys' leading tackler. Clark had fallen out of the linebacker rotation completely just one week before, however, seeing zero defensive snaps and 18 special-teams snaps in a Week 5 win over the Steelers. With Kendricks able to use Dallas' bye to get healthy, Clark may not maintain a fantasy-friendly role in Week 8 against the 49ers.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Piles up seven tackles in loss
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Clark recorded seven tackles (five solo) in the Cowboys' Week 2 loss to the Saints on Sunday.
After playing just 34 percent of the defensive snaps off the bench in the Week 1 win over the Browns, Clark started and doubled his snap share -- 69 percent -- versus New Orleans. Through two games, Clark has 11 tackles (seven solo) to his name. He's also played 18 snaps on special teams.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Full participant Wednesday
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Clark (knee) was a full participant in Wednesday's practice session, Nick Harris of the Cowboys' official site reports.
Clark had been dealing with a sore left knee since mid-August, but he appears to be good to go for Week 1 against Cleveland on Sunday. The 2022 fifth-round pick took a giant leap during his sophomore campaign, and he finished 2023 with 109 tackles (70 solo), three passes defended and one fumble recovery over 17 regular-season games.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Sits with sore knee
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Clark didn't practice Wednesday due to a sore left knee, Nick Harris of DallasCowboys.com reports.
The third-year linebacker doesn't appear to be dealing with a serious injury, but at this stage of camp the Cowboys aren't going to push a defensive starter too hard. Clark stepped up last season with a career-high 109 tackles, and he could take his production higher in 2024 in new defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer's linebacker-friendly scheme.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Career-high 109 tackles in 2023
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Clark recorded a career-high 109 tackles (70 solo) while adding three passes defended and a fumble recovery over 17 regular-season games in 2023.
He added eight more stops in a wild-card loss to the Packers. A fifth-round pick in 2022 due to back surgery that significantly impacted his draft stock, Clark looked 100 percent recovered as he played in every game for the Cowboys and took over an every-down role for most of the year. Leighton Vander Esch still has one season left on his contract, but he played only five games in 2023 and would be an easy cut to save cap space, potentially putting the speedy Clark in a starting role right from Week 1 next season.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Leads team in tackles Sunday
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Clark recorded 11 tackles (eight solo) in Sunday's loss to the Eagles.
The second-year linebacker led Dallas in tackles while reaching double digits in a game for the second time this season. Clark has emerged as a reliable IDP asset since Leighton Vander Esch (neck) landed on IR, piling up 25 tackles over the last three games, but he's still looking for his first career NFL sack or interception to add some splash plays to his fantasy floor.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Leading tackler against Bolts
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Clark recorded eight tackles (seven solo) in Monday's win over the Chargers.
With Leighton Vander Esch (neck) sidelined, Clark led the Cowboys in tackles on the night while playing a season-high 60 defensive snaps. Over the last four games, the 2022 fifth-round pick has racked up 33 stops, putting him on the IDP radar in deeper formats. Clark is still looking for his first career INT or sack, however, and the lack of splash plays does limit his fantasy upside.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Estimated full practice Saturday
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Clark (shoulder) was estimated as a full participant Saturday and has no injury designation for Sunday's contest against the Chargers, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Clark is coming off his highest defensive snap count of the season in Week 5 against the 49ers, when he registered nine tackles in a 42-10 loss. It's unclear when he injured his shoulder, but he was able to get some limited practice in during the week and is trending toward playing Monday against the Chargers. The 2022 fifth-round pick has 31 tackles (17 solo) in five games this season.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Good to go for SNF
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Clark (shoulder) has been listed as active for Sunday night's game against the 49ers, Michael Gehlken of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Clark was limited for all three of Dallas' practices leading up to this Week 5 contest, but he'll ultimately be available as the team's top middle linebacker. The 2022 fifth-round pick has tallied 22 tackles through the first four games of the season.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Labeled questionable for Week 5
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Clark (shoulder) is listed on the Cowboys' injury report as questionable to face the 49ers in Week 5, Jon Machota of The Athletic reports.
Clark logged a trio of limited practice sessions this week due to a shoulder issue, putting his status for Sunday's NFC clash in question. If he's unable to pay, Markquese Bell could be asked to step into a larger role.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Sets NGS record in NFL debut
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Clark saw his first action of the season in Sunday's win over the Bears, picking up six tackles and logging a top speed of 22.19 mph while chasing down Justin Fields -- setting a new Next Gen Stats record for a linebacker in the process, the Cowboys' official website reports.
The LSU star fell to the fifth round of the 2022 draft due to a back injury that required spinal fusion surgery, and it was feared he might miss his entire rookie season. Instead of redshirting, however, Clark was ready to go for Week 8, and while he was initially set to see special-teams duties in his first taste of NFL action, an injury to Anthony Barr (hamstring) opened the door for him to get reps on defense as well. The previous NGS record for top speed recorded by a linebacker was held by Micah Parsons, so the Cowboys may now have the fastest LB group in the entire league. Dallas will be on bye in Week 9, giving Clark more time to learn the nuances of coordinator Dan Quinn's scheme, but after his impressive NFL debut he could see a significant role in the second half.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Shifted to reserve list
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The Cowboys placed Clark (back) on the reserve/non-football injury list Tuesday, Rob Phillips of the team's official site reports.
Clark underwent spinal fusion surgery in March and was placed on Dallas' active/NFI list at the opening of training camp as a result. Now, the rookie middle linebacker will become eligible to return after Dallas' fourth regular-season game, though it's unlikely that he will be ready to suit up until the 2023 campaign.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Starts camp on NFI list
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Clark (back) was placed on the active/non-football injury list Wednesday, Todd Archer of ESPN.com reports.
Clark underwent spinal fusion surgery in March, after an MRI at the NFL combine found a herniated disk. He is not expected to play in 2022.
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Cowboys' Damone Clark: Heads to Dallas
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The Cowboys selected Clark (back) in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, 176th overall.
Clark underwent spinal fusion surgery back in late March and is not expected to play in 2022. Prior to the medical problems, the senior was expected to be a possible Day 2 selection after leading the entire SEC in tackles (135). The LSU product was a full-time starter for just one season, but he's a solid and explosive athlete when healthy.
