Damone Clark was on track to be one of the top linebackers on the board in the 2022 NFL draft, but he now faces a significant hurdle on that road.
The star LSU linebacker will likely need spinal fusion surgery after a herniated disk was discovered during a medical checkup at the NFL Scouting Combine, according to a report from Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network. The surgery could cause Clark to miss the entirety of his rookie NFL season.
It's an unfortunate turn of events for the Southern Lab alum, who did everything for the Tigers under difficult circumstances in the 2021 season. Clark participated in the Senior Bowl earlier in the offseason and was projected to be a likely Day 2 selection.
With rehab questions, it's likely to see Clark's draft stock take a dip, but he is expected to make a full recovery and should hear his name called at some point during the draft.
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Outside of Clark, the lone sure thing in the draft for the Tigers appears to be Derek Stingley Jr. The star cornerback has injury concerns of his own, missing significant time in each of the past two seasons, but is still expected to be safely within the top 10 selections of this year's draft. Other players who could hear their names called are DT Neil Farrell, IOL Ed Ingram, DB Cordale Flott and even kicker Cade York.