The Detroit Lions added depth at linebacker with Damone Clark in NFL free agency this past offseason. But it’s now not clear Clark will play for the Lions this season.
Lions head coach Dan Campbell delivered an unfortunate injury update on the linebacker in his press conference early Tuesday afternoon.
“He is done indefinitely,” Campbell said. “Unfortunately, it’s significantly enough that he will be out [for a while].”
The injury has sidelined Clark for the past couple weeks at training camp. He hasn’t practiced or participated in any preseason games.
The team has not disclosed the details of the injury.
In March, the Lions signed the linebacker to a 1-year, $1.4 million contract. On the team’s unofficial depth chart, Clark is listed as a third-team inside linebacker.
Clark has started 26 games in his NFL career. He started all 17 contests during the 2023 regular season for the Dallas Cowboys. Clark posted 109 combined tackles in that campaign.
Dan Campbell Announces LB Damone Clark Out Indefinitely
Campbell didn’t provide too many details with his injury update on Clark. The head coach didn’t even have a timeline for his return.
But the “indefinitely” timeline could potentially mean the entire season.
Clark began his career as a fifth-round selection with the Dallas Cowboys. The Cowboys picked the linebacker at No. 176 overall in the 2022 NFL Draft.
As a rookie, Clark started five games. He then was a full-time starter for the team in 2023.
Clark lost his starting job, though, the following campaign and then his roster spot last season. The Texans claimed Clark off waivers in November of last year.
The Lions added Clark in free agency on March 18.
Last season, he posted 28 combined tackles — 14 with the Cowboys in eight games and 14 with the Texans. He started two of those contests for the Cowboys.
Overall, though, Clark played more on special teams — 269 snaps — during 2025 than he did on offense (102 snaps).
Lions LB Depth for Final Week of 2026 Preseason
The good news is the Lions weren’t counting on Clark being a starter. But not having him will certainly hurt the team’s depth.
Jack Campbell and Derrick Barnes will enter the regular season as the team’s starting linebackers once again. Malcolm Rodriguez is another solid returning linebacker for Detroit, and the Lions added former top five pick Devin White over the summer.
That’s a solid top four group in the middle of the defense. Clark’s injury, though, opens the door for another linebacker to potentially make the roster.
Linebackers potentially contending for that spot are Jimmy Rolder, Joe Bachie, Trevor Nowaske, Troy Reeder, Erick Hunter, and Amen Ogbongbemiga.
The Lions will conclude the preseason on Saturday, August 29 against the Indianapolis Colts. The game will kick off at 1 pm ET.
By the time the contest concludes, the Lions will have roughly 24 hours to make their final 53-man roster decisions. All NFL teams must trim their rosters to 53 players by 6 pm ET on Sunday.
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