Following a year away from the game recovering from a torn ACL, Jets S Chuck Clark has been itching to get back to competition. After getting his first taste of action over the first two training camp practices Wednesday and Thursday, Clark is hungry for more.

"I really just love being out there on the field making plays," Clark said. "Once things get moving fast, that is the fun part of football, and I missed that, being out there making plays. I am constantly out there trying to speed things up. It has been too long, and I am just so excited to go and make plays."

Clark, 29, was acquired by the Jets in March 2023 from the Ravens for a seventh-round pick in 2024 NFL Draft. In June last year, during the final practice of OTAs, he tore his ACL, which led to the end of his iron-man streak of 1,248 consecutive snaps dating to Week 16 of the 2021 season.

In the middle of rehab, Clark opted to re-sign with the Jets, and in the spring, he returned to participate in voluntary OTA sessions and mandatory minicamp.

"It was a really good rehab process. Everything went really smooth," Clark said. "Around that seven or eight month mark I was feeling really good, I was already outside really running and cutting. And now there is nothing I can't do. I had a lot of support from people here inside the building and everyone I worked with outside."

In six seasons with Baltimore, Clark played in 96 games (63 starts) and finished with 384 tackles, 5 interceptions, 32 PDs and 5 FF. He has taken snaps at every position on defense. In 2022, he played snaps at safety (612 snaps), outside linebacker (133), slot cornerback (128), inside linebacker (55), edge (54), perimeter cornerback (50) and interior defensive line (15).

An already versatile defender, the time away gave Clark a new outlook on football. Watching practice from the balcony that overlooks the fields at the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center, he followed the call sheet and took mental reps.

Finally down from his perch, Clark has been working closely with third year safety Tony Adams, sharing what he learned.

"I see TA getting better by the day," Clark said. "We are out there, and I see him picking up more concepts. There are a couple of things that I will throw at him from my experiences that I can share, and he is picking up on it. He is going to be a great player."

With his pedigree, it is hard to imagine, Clark has too much left to absorb. But he's still learning and absorbing, as he practices, against future Hall of Fame QB Aaron Rodgers every day.

"I love going against Aaron in practice," Clark said. "It just gives me a different element, a different quarterback element to go against in practice, and it's like they can make every throw on the field. As a safety back there in the middle, he is testing you in all types of ways, and making you play true to your technique and be honest to it, so I love playing against him and love being back out here.