The images were telling after Bud Clark went down on the turf. During the preseason game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Tennessee Titans, the rookie was helped off the field. Later, head coach Mike Macdonald revealed that the safety suffered a broken ankle and will be sidelined for several months.
While Ty Okada is the team’s first option at free safety, Clark was expected to play a significant role this season. The third option on the depth chart, Maxen Hook, will now likely see more playing time.
Seattle’s strong safety position also features three highly agile and versatile players. Julian Love is the top option, followed by AJ Finley, with Rodney Thomas II further down the depth chart.
The worst-case outcome for Clark
In a real gut-punch moment during Sunday night’s preseason game against the Titans, Bud Clark went down with a broken ankle on Seattle’s very first defensive snap. He got caught in a pileup mid-play while defending a run, and trainers had to put an air cast on his right leg before carting him off as teammates gathered around.
Bud Clark went down with a serious injury and Cam Ward made sure to take a knee and give his wishes.
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) August 24, 2026
Hope he's okay. pic.twitter.com/c89wMUrrAG
Clark was selected with the 64th overall pick in the second round of the latest draft out of the TCU Horned Frogs. Expected to be an important addition to the secondary, his long-awaited professional debut will unfortunately be delayed longer than anticipated.
Another test for the reigning champions
So far, the results for Mike Macdonald’s team have not been what was expected, not only statistically but also in terms of overall performance. They opened the preseason with a 17–7 loss to the Dallas Cowboys, while their visit to Nissan Stadium ended in a 19–16 loss to the Titans.
Their third and final preseason game will be anything but easy. It will take place next Friday, August 28, when they travel to Arrowhead to face the always-tough Kansas City Chiefs.
