NASHVILLE — Seattle Seahawks rookie safety Bud Clark, a six-year TCU starter, was carted off with a right leg injury on the first defensive snap of Sunday night’s preseason game at Nissan Stadium in Nashville. Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times reported that trainers placed an air cast on Clark’s lower right leg.
Seattle had just driven 74 yards in 10 plays for a touchdown. Clark came up to tackle Tennessee Titans running back Tony Pollard on a 9-yard run. It was Tennessee’s first offensive snap. He stayed down several minutes.
Gregg Bell of the News Tribune reported that nearly all 91 Seahawks came off the sideline to gather around Clark before he was taken away. Seattle had not announced a diagnosis after the game.
Clark started because Seahawks coach Mike Macdonald rested every usual starter on both sides of the ball.
Clark lined up at safety, nickel, and cornerback at TCU.
“I’m versatile and I’m a ballhawk,” Clark said on a conference call with reporters after Seattle drafted him 64th overall on April 24. “I’m getting to the ball every chance I get. I compete; I’m a competitor always.”
Bud Clark At TCU
Clark wore No. 21 in Fort Worth from 2020 to 2025, with Sonny Dykes coaching him for the last four seasons.
He intercepted 15 passes and broke up 35 more. He picked off at least 3 in four separate seasons. His career totals also include 214 tackles, 4 fumble recoveries, and 2 defensive touchdowns.
In 2025 he played all 13 games and had 56 tackles. He intercepted 4 passes and returned one for a touchdown. He won Big 12 Defensive Player of the Week against North Carolina, a game TCU won 48-14.
Clark was second-team All-Big 12 in 2024 and again in 2025. TCU named him a captain three times. The Horned Frogs finished 9-4 and 5-4 in the Big 12.
Bud Clark, Tony Pollard And The Dallas Cowboys
Clark’s only other NFL snaps came against the Dallas Cowboys. He made 3 tackles at Lumen Field on Aug. 15. Dallas won 17-7.
Pollard picked up 9 yards during the play that injured him. Dallas selected Pollard in the fourth round of the 2019 draft, and he spent five seasons with the Cowboys. He rushed for 1,007 yards and earned a Pro Bowl appearance in 2022, then played the 2023 season on the franchise tag. In March 2024, he signed with Tennessee.
Seattle lost wide receiver Jake Bobo for the season Friday, when he hurt his knee in a joint practice against the Titans. Clark was expected to open the season as Seattle’s third safety behind Julian Love and Ty Okada, MyNorthwest reported.
