Damone Clark appreciates Cowboys for keeping him out of ‘harm’s way’

Ahead of this NFL season, Dallas Cowboys fifth-round pick Damone Clark said he’s never missed a football game in his life. The 176th overall pick has never had surgery and never had to take time away from the game he loves. Ironically, the reason that all will change is because of the team that drafted him.

During the NFL Combine, the LSU product was told to go to the medical tent by his group leader. It was the Dallas medical staff that told the linebacker his routine medical MRI showed that had a herniated disk in his neck and needed spinal fusion surgery. Up until that moment, he told reporters during rookie minicamp, Clark felt 100%. The rookie said he was shocked and even wondered if the staff had the wrong guy. From there, he went out and performed, putting out impressive numbers (like a 4.57-second, 40-yard dash time and a 9.86 RAS) compared to other linebackers in the class.

The man who revealed the news to the LSU linebacker was the Cowboys’ own spine specialist Dr. Andrew Clavenna. Dr. Clavenna was one of three spine specialists doing exams at the NFL Combine. After Indianapolis, Clark went to get a second opinion from spine specialist Dr. Robert Watkins who confirmed exactly what the Dallas specialist had told him. Dr. Watkins would perform Clark’s surgery just weeks later on March 24.

Because of the surgery, the linebacker’s draft stock understandably fell. But, as the rookie puts it himself, “everything happens for a reason,” and he hasn’t thought twice about when he was drafted:

"“I’m not mad about it. I’m happy that they found it. I’m here. I’m getting better. I know I’ll be back out there soon. I fell to the perfect team. This is a great team enivronment around here. Big family around here. That’s the biggest thing. I’m a family oriented type of guy, so I just fell right in with this team.”"

Rookie Damone Clark said he felt 100% before Cowboys medical staff told him he had a herniated disk in his neck at the NFL Combine

During rookie minicamp over the weekend, the 21-year-old did as much as he could at The Star. He called what he got to do “mental reps.” Although he wished he could be out there playing, he knows that the organization is keeping him safe. In fact, the New Orleans native has an incredibly positive outlook on the situation. He said getting the surgery “extended [his] career rather than shortened” it.

Perhaps the reason he is so confident about his circumstance is that his new teammate, Leighton Vander Esch, also went through something very similar. Vander Esch had the same surgery after the 2019 season and is now back on the football field getting quality reps. If LVE can do it, why can’t Clark? That’s how the rookie feels at least.

Until he gets his chance on the field, which Stephen Jones feels can still possibly be the 2022 season, the fifth-rounder is doing all he can to be a part of the team. Mike McCarthy said Clark was “very bright” and had “good command and understanding” in Zoom meetings during camp. McCarthy also assured reporters that the rehab was going well. Clark thinks so, too.

"“I just take the rehab thing one day at a time. It’s up to Dr. Watkins who did my surgery and is on the medical staff here. I know they won’t put me in harm’s way. So whenever they tell me I can go and if I feel good, I’m gonna go.”"