FRISCO, Texas — Things are thus far coming up roses for the Dallas Cowboys on their defensive interior after trading to acquire Kenny Clark just ahead of the season kickoff, the three-time Pro Bowler playing lights out football in conjunction with Osa Odighizuwa and Solomon Thomas doing the same.
The journey to get to Week 3 of his 10th NFL season has been a surreal one, to say the least, and only gets more so when the Cowboys travel to take on the Chicago Bears.
After all, Clark spent his entire previous nine seasons beating up on the Bears for the Green Bay Packers, and that meant giving Matt Eberflus hell in the process — the former head coach in Chicago that is now Clark's defensive coordinator in Dallas — and the two are now on the same side in Eberflus' return to the Windy City.
"That's crazy," said Clark. "I mean, yeah, I'm just happy I'm with Flus now but, you know, it's just crazy how life works sometimes."
That is indeed true, also considering the decision to trade Micah Parsons to land Clark in the first place is one of the biggest reasons Jadeveon Clowney chose to sign with the Cowboys entering Week 3, following a visit in Week 2, the former first-overall pick's eyes getting wide with excitement after seeing what Dallas' defensive interior looks, and plays like, nowadays.
"As soon as Kenny Clark signed here," Clowney explained. "I told my agent, 'I think that will be a good move for me. They've got a good secondary, and they've got good [defensive] tackles. They just need [me]. Yeah, I need to be there, so see if you can make the call and make something happen to get me in Dallas.'
"And I'm here."
Upon hearing of Clowney's comments, Clark weighed in on them as well as his view of Clowney's ability to impact games, and now for the Cowboys alongside him.
"Yeah, I love it," Clark said of the love offered up by Clowney. "I love hearing stuff like that. I mean, it's cool. And, I respect Jadeveon. I mean, he's going to bring a lot of experience to our group.
"And the guy he can rush, and he can stop the run. He can do pretty much everything. That's another guy that we need that's gonna help us. I'm excited to get a chance to work with him and play with him.
"It's gonna be great doing work with him."
That work might begin as early as this weekend in Chicago, Clowney saying he is ready and expects to make his debut for Dallas in Week 3, something the team is very open to and hoping for.
And Clark can't wait to see what that damage might look like, while doing plenty of his own.
