Detroit Lions Free Agency Injury Report: Damone Clark, LB

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The Lions added Damone Clark, LB in free agency. He has a remarkable medical history of a spinal fusion surgery for a herniated disc found at the NFL combine.

Here is the excerpt from my medical review of Clark:

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(The following information and analysis is based on available public information. Age in parentheses is at start of 2026 season.)

Damone Clark, LB (26)

Contract: 1 year, $ pending

Concern level 4/10

Clark was able to return from cervical spine fusion in just seven months. There is a fairly high success rate with fusions of the cervical spine. Other examples include Saivion Smith, Laiatu Latu, Peyton Manning, and Leighton Vander Esch - who was Clarks’ teammate with the Cowboys.

Vander Esch retired after six NFL seasons due to his neck issues. As seen with Vander Esch, there is a durability and recurrence concern over time. Clark will be entering his 5th NFL season. On just a 1-year deal, the risk to the Lions is low.

The cervical spine is high up on the spine. The lower the fusion level down the spine, the lower the return-to-play rate. For example, Levi Onwuzurike had an L5-S1 fusion which is the lowest segment of the spine, and might have been only the 2nd player to return to the NFL after that level of fusion.

Clark won’t be the only Lion who had surgery for a herniated disc, as Sam LaPorta had his surgery in November 2025. It’s unknown exactly what kind of spinal surgery procedure LaPorta underwent.

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This article originally appeared on Lions Wire: Detroit Lions Free Agency Injury Report: Damone Clark, LB

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