Bud Clark’s season could be over for the Seattle Seahawks before it ever began.
After just one snap against the Tennessee Titans in the preseason, the second-round draft pick out of Texas Christian University was carted off after suffering an apparent ankle injury. Multiple reporters cited an air cast being applied to his leg.
The Seahawks had elected to rest most of their starters in the preseason contest, allowing Clark to get extended work. An unfortunate rollup left Clark unable to get up under his own power.
Clark, a second-round pick, got the start Seattle is not playing any starters tonight.
Bud Clark Injury: Seahawks Rookie’s Exit Could End the Safety Competition
Seattle entered training camp with a clear question at safety after Coby Bryant left for the Chicago Bears in free agency.
Seahawks.com identified Okada and Clark as two of the primary contenders for the vacancy, asking before camp whether Okada would claim the starting role or whether the rookie could make a push for the job.
Okada entered that competition with a significant experience advantage.
The former undrafted free agent appeared in all 17 games last season and made 11 starts, including nine while Love was injured and two in place of Bryant. Okada finished the regular season with 65 tackles, six passes defensed, three tackles for loss, 1.5 sacks, one interception and a fumble recovery.
That experience already made Okada the logical favorite entering camp.
Clark, however, had given Seattle reason to consider a larger role for the rookie. The Seahawks selected him with the final pick of the second round, No. 64 overall, after he recorded 15 interceptions during his TCU career.
His versatility was part of the attraction.
“I’m versatile and I’m a ballhawk,” Clark said after Seattle drafted him. “I’m getting to the ball every chance I get.”
Clark played safety, nickel and cornerback at TCU, giving head coach Mike Macdonald another movable defensive back for a scheme built around players capable of filling multiple assignments.
He had also started receiving first-team opportunities during training camp, evidence that Seattle was willing to give the rookie a genuine chance to push Okada.
Ty Okada Was Already Leading Seahawks’ Starting Safety Race
Clark’s injury does not necessarily create a new starter for Seattle as much as it could remove Okada’s biggest challenger.
Okada was ahead of Clark at free safety, while Love remains established at the other starting safety position, evidenced by the Seahawks decision to rest Okada and give Clark extra reps versus the Titans.
Okada’s emergence has been one of Seattle’s better developmental stories.
He originally joined the Seahawks as an undrafted free agent out of Montana State in 2023 and spent much of his first two seasons on the fringes of the roster and practice squad. His role changed dramatically in 2025 when injuries created opportunities on defense.
Okada took advantage of them.
His performance was enough for Seattle to bring him back as an exclusive rights free agent this offseason, and Bryant’s departure created a path toward becoming a full-time starter for the defending Super Bowl champions.
Clark represented the primary threat to that opportunity.
Now the more immediate question is how much time the rookie could miss.
The Seahawks were resting most of their established starters against Tennessee, giving Clark an opportunity for extended preseason work. Instead, his night ended after a single defensive snap.
Seattle still has depth at safety, including A.J. Finley, Rodney Thomas II, D’Anthony Bell and Maxen Hook, while Nick Emmanwori gives Macdonald additional flexibility throughout the secondary.
But Clark was different from the rest of that group because of Seattle’s investment in him and the possibility that he could eventually challenge for a starting role.
Until the Seahawks provide more information, it would be premature to put a timetable on Clark’s recovery. What is already clear is that any extended absence would make Okada’s path to the starting lineup considerably less complicated.
This story will be updated as additional information becomes available.
Seattle Seahawks 2nd-Round Draft Pick Bud Clark Suffers Brutal Injury vs. Titans