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Seahawks: Rookie safety out for 2026 season with ankle injury after training camp
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- Seahawks: Rookie safety out for 2026 season with ankle injury after training camp
Seahawks: Rookie safety out for 2026 season with ankle injury after training camp appeared first on ClutchPoints . Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
The Seattle Seahawks faced a major setback in their defensive backfield on Sunday night at Nissan Stadium when promising rookie safety Bud Clark suffered a severe right ankle injury on the very first defensive snap against the Tennessee Titans. Medical personnel quickly immobilized Clark's leg in an air cast and transported him off the field, casting a shadow over the sideline. After the game, head coach Mike Macdonald confirmed that the second-round pick had broken his ankle and would be out for multiple months.
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Unfortunately, that initial diagnosis soon turned into a season-ending situation for the highly regarded rookie defender. NFL insider Ari Meirov reported on X that Clark will not play at all during his rookie season : "Seahawks rookie S Bud Clark will miss the entire 2026 NFL season with an ankle injury suffered on Sunday vs. the Titans. Seattle used a 2nd-round pick on the versatile safety out of TCU, who had 15 career college interceptions and brought a lot of energy."
This injury abruptly halts what had been an impressive training camp performance for Clark, who had quickly moved up Macdonald's depth chart thanks to his elite ball skills, high-energy style of play, and coverage instincts. He was pushing for significant rotational snaps alongside Julian Love and Ty Okada.
Clark's heartbreaking injury overshadowed the remainder of Seattle's 19-16 exhibition loss to Tennessee. While the Seahawks' backups ultimately lost a 13-point lead in the second half, there were positive signs from the offense, with quarterback Drew Lock throwing a 36-yard touchdown pass to tight end Elijah Arroyo and running back Jacardia Wright showcasing a 69-yard touchdown run. However, losing Clark for the entire 2026 season leaves Macdonald and general manager John Schneider urgently looking for additional depth in the secondary before Week 1.
Related: Seahawks' 53-man roster prediction for 2026 NFL season
Related: 2 SEC schools set to duke it out over ex-SMU star recently cut by Seahawks
