The Green Bay Packers initially had no Pro Bowlers. No one on offense or defense was named All-Pro. The only option was running back Keysian Nixon. Matt LaFleur did not finish in the top five for Coach of the Year honors and general manager Brian Gutekunst did not win Executive of the Year honors.
The NFL finally recognized someone from the Packers. Defensive tackle Kenny Clark has been named to the Pro Bowl, the league announced Tuesday.Clark will essentially replace San Francisco 49ers defensive tackle Javon Hargrave. Javon Hargrave will miss the Pro Bowl as the Niners prepare for the Super Bowl in a week. This is the third time Kenny Clark has advanced to the Pro Bowl in his NFL career.
He has a first-round pick in 2021. He was also a substitute in 2019. He was named as a substitute in 2018 but was not called up.Clark started all 17 regular season games for the Packers in 2023. He had a career-high 7.5 sacks, third on the team behind Rashaan Gary and Preston Smith. He had 16 quarterback hits. According to PFF, Clark posted an above-average defensive grade of 68.8, including a 74.4 rush grade and a 61 overall pressure grade.
The starting defensive ends for the original NFC teams would be Aaron Donald of the Los Angeles Rams and Dexter Lawrence of the New York Giants. Hargrave was the submarine. However, Donald decided not to play due to injury, leaving Hargrave to play in the Super Bowl. His name was Clark and Derrick Brown of the Carolina Panthers.