Cowboys’ Damone Clark close to making stunning return off NFI

When the Dallas Cowboys used a Day 3 draft pick on LSU linebacker Damone Clark, it was done with the expectation that Clark would be out for most of the 2022 season due to spinal fusion surgery in the predraft process. For someone who never missed a game in college, this had to be stunning.

The Cowboys have stated that they believe Clark can get on the field at some point this year. While spinal injuries should be handled with more care than perhaps any other football-adjacent ailment, Dallas is confident in their team physicians stating he could bounce back relatively soon.

Clark has his 21-day practice window opened, meaning that he could potentially come off the non-football injury list if everything goes as planned. Even on a Dallas defense that is performing well, this could be a very intriguing development to watch for in the next few weeks.

Clark was a dominant presence in the best conference college football had to offer, giving him a much higher chance to hit the ground running than 99% of players picked in the fifth round. If his neck and back check out, Clark may be a nice new toy for Dan Quinn’s defense.

Will Damone Clark be a star for the Dallas Cowboys?

Clark wore the famous No. 18 jersey during his time at LSU, which is bestowed upon team leaders on and off the field. With some comically impressive numbers against elite SEC competition, Clark would have been a Day 2 pick if not for his injury concerns.

With former LSU teammate Jabril Cox rarely getting on the field, Clark might be able to wiggle his way into Quinn’s plans. While he’s built like an old-school 4-3 inside linebacker, Clark has more than enough athleticism and range to stick in most modern defenses.

The Cowboys have been one of the better teams in the league when it comes to Day 3 drafting, as names like Tony Pollard, Dalton Schultz, and Tyler Biadasz have joined the team in the last few years. Clark could be the next great success story if everything pans out for him.

Dallas is no stranger to taking players with name-brand recognition when they are at their lowest in terms of value and rehabilitating them back up. This philosophy could help the Cowboys land a premier linebacker without paying a premium price.

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