Updates on Bud Clark's Broken Ankle Injury and Timeline for Star Rookie to Return to Seahawks

Seattle Seahawks rookie safety Bud Clark is out for the 2026 season after suffering a broken ankle during Sunday's preseason game against the Tennessee Titans.

Seattle placed Clark on injured reserve on Tuesday, ending his campaign before it even began.

Clark, 24, was a second-round pick by the Seahawks in April out of TCU.

Clark, 24, was battling to earn the starting free safety job following Coby Bryant's departure during the offseason. Ty Okada has topped the team's depth chart at the position during summer, joining Julian Love.

The status of Nick Emmanwori is also very much up in the air due to ankle issues, leaving the Seahawks a bit thin in the secondary:

Clark, meanwhile, spent six seasons at TCU, accumulating 214 tackles, 15 interceptions, one sack, one fumble recovery and one defensive touchdown.

NFL.com's Lance Zierlein compared him to Kerby Joseph in his scouting report, noting that his "traits won't pop but his tape most certainly will. Clark is a coverage-versatile safety in a cornerback's body with the talent to range over the top or man up on the slot. He plays with an overriding desire to do everything all at once—which produces spectacular takeaways and occasional breakdowns—but the good outweighs the bad."

Unfortunately, his rookie season is now over after the serious ankle injury.