Packers’ Kenny Clark Replacement Sounds off on ‘Disrespect’
Three days before the Packers were to play the Detroit Lions in their 2025 opener, defensive lineman Colby Wooden got a phone call. It was his father. While much attention had been foisted on the Packers in recent days after the stunning trade for pass-rusher Micah Parsons, a contrarian opinion had taken hold, too–the Packers defense would get chewed up in the running game.
The Packers had to trade away stalwart defensive lineman Kenny Clark to acquire Parsons, and the feeling was, that would be costly in the team’s efforts to handle the run. Detroit, after all, rushed for 2,488 yards last season, sixth in the NFL. Without Clark, surely the Packers would be in trouble.
Wooden, who is helping replace Clark in the middle, took the call from his dad, who said, “Do me a favor, shut ‘em up.”
And he, along with the entire Packers defensive front, did just that, holding the Lions to 46 yards on 22 carries, their lowest rushing output since Week 6 in 2023. Wooden, Devonte Wyatt and Karl Brooks held the line admirably in the middle all day for the Packers.
Colby Wooden: ‘I Took That Personal’
Wooden, for one, was insulted by the questions about the team’s inability to hold against the run.
“I for sure took that personal …” Wooden said. “So I just, did my job, went out there, stopped the run. I took it personal. Honestly, I felt like it was kinda disrespectful, like, ‘Oh, they gonna run the ball.’ So I made it my mission—we, excuse me—we made it our mission to shut them down.”
That’s not easy to do against the combo of Jahmyr Gibbs and David Montgomery, nicknamed Sonic and Knuckles.
“We know what they want to do,” Wooden said. “Last year, they wanted to run. They call them Sonic and Knuckles, or whatever. They want to run them 30 times. So we know they want to run that ball. We’ve got to do our job to stop the run so they can get back and let (Parsons) go get them.”
Packers Filling Roles With Micah Parsons on Board
Wooden said the effect of having Parsons on the field was obvious, and it works both ways. When offenses focus on corralling Parsons, the other Packers must step up.
“Everybody’s got a job to do, everybody got a role,” Wooden said. “Everybody’s got to buy into their role. We know what attention and what he comes with. And we know we got to stop that run, go help him out, if he is getting is getting chipped, doubled or whatever, now it’s somebody else’s turn to win their one-on-one.”
Packers Have Commanders Next
And despite the obviously encouraging results, Wooden is not getting ahead of himself. The Commanders will be next on the docket, with fearsome young quarterback Jayden Daniels on hand.
“It’s just one week,” Wooden said. “It’s Week 1. It’s great to start off with a win, dominate. But we’ve got to keep it going. We got a good team coming here on Thursday, we know we got to be ready to stop that run and contain that quarterback. So we just gotta keep going, keep getting better, keep jelling.”
Seahawks Pro Bowler Blowing Opportunity for Huge Contract: What’s Going Wrong?
The Seattle Seahawks were hoping that their Pro Bowl talent would continue to shine as they looked to lock him down to a lucrative long-term contract. However, recent performances have raised serious doubts about whether he’ll secure the deal he’s been eyeing. The player, who has been a key figure in the Seahawks' defense for years, is now at a crossroads where his future and financial security may be hanging in the balance.
For a player with his pedigree and prior accolades, including multiple Pro Bowls, expectations have always been high. Yet, instead of showcasing the consistency and playmaking ability that led to his past success, he’s struggled to deliver in high-pressure moments. The most recent games, particularly in the 2025 season opener, left many wondering if his best years are behind him. The once-explosive defender, known for his ability to make game-changing plays, now finds himself facing criticism for missed opportunities and inconsistent performances.
While injuries have played a role in the player's decline, the team has stood by him, hoping that with the right coaching and support, he would return to his former Pro Bowl form. However, in a business like the NFL, where contract negotiations are based on performance, time is running out for him to prove that he deserves the massive contract extension he seeks.
Experts are beginning to question whether the Seahawks will be willing to invest a significant portion of their salary cap into a player who is no longer playing at the elite level he once was. With the salary cap getting tighter and Seattle needing to invest in younger talent, the pressure on the veteran to prove his worth has never been higher.
It’s not just about the stats either. Teams are looking for leadership and consistency, and this player’s recent struggles to impact the game on a consistent basis have raised doubts. As the season progresses, if these issues aren’t addressed, the player may find himself in a difficult position when it comes to contract talks.
The question now is, can the player rise to the occasion and turn his season around? With his contract on the line and the team's future at stake, the pressure will only mount in the coming weeks. For Seahawks fans, it’s a tough pill to swallow—watching a Pro Bowl-caliber player fail to capitalize on his biggest opportunity yet.
As the deadline for contract discussions looms closer, one thing is certain: the clock is ticking, and the player must perform at his highest level if he wants to secure the massive contract he desires.
