Seattle Seahawks sign Frank Clark to one-year deal, move Uchenna Nwosu to IR
The Seattle Seahawks have signed former Broncos defensive end Frank Clark to a one-year deal ahead of Week 8, the team announced on Thursday. Denver released the former Wolverine almost two weeks ago amid a series of roster moves that included cutting fellow defensive lineman Randy Gregory.
The release from Denver made Clark a free agent and opened him up to sign a new deal with his former team – Seattle. Prior to his release, the Broncos restructured his contract to help sweeten a trade deal that never came to fruition. They adjusted his $1.2 million base salary down to the minimum of $841,000 for the rest of the season.
“Having background and history with him, it’s a natural spot for him to play with us and see if he can get in the rotation and help us out and see how it goes,” Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll said.
Clark played in just two games for Denver after he suffered a hip injury in the season opener, tallying two tackles.
Kansas City released Clark in the offseason, saving $21 million against their 2023 salary cap. His initial contract with the Broncos was for one year, up to $7.5 million. It included a $5.5 million guaranteed base salary, $1 million in incentives, and another $1 million in more challenging incentives.
Clark spent the last four seasons with Kansas City after being traded from the Seattle Seahawks in 2019. He was a key difference maker in the Chiefs’ two Super Bowl LIV and LVII wins. He is also a three-time Pro Bowler.
Last season Clark only had five sacks, his lowest total since his rookie year in Seattle. In his career, he has 59.5 sacks, 15 forced fumbles, and seven fumble recoveries on his resume. He also ranks third all-time in NFL history in postseason sacks with 13.5, only sitting behind Willie McGinest and NFL Hall of Famer Bruce Smith.
The Seattle Seahawks originally drafted the defensive end in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Michigan. He’s made roughly $86 million in career earnings so far.
Seahawks move Uchenna Nwosu to IR
In another roster move on Thursday, the Seahawks designated linebacker Uchenna Nwosu to the injured reserve following the former second-rounder’s injury last week. Nwosu suffered a torn pectoral muscle that requires surgery, effectively ending his 2023 season in Week 7.
In six games for the Seahawks this season, Nwosu had two sacks and four tackles for loss. He joined the Seahawks ahead of the 2022 season on a two-year deal worth $19 million. The team re-upped on his deal with a three-year, $45 million extension in July this year.
Nwosu was originally a second-round pick out of USC for the Chargers in the 2018 NFL Draft. Last season, he had a career-high 9.5 sacks with 12.5 tackles for loss at outside linebacker.