Chuck Clark is set to return to the Jets’ lineup in Week 11. The veteran safety was activated from injured reserve on Saturday, per a team announcement. 
Clark has been out of the lineup for the past month due to an ankle injury. The 29-year-old missed the minimum four games before returning to practice earlier this week. Given the timing of his 21-day activation window having been opened, today’s move comes as no surprise. New York now has six IR activations remaining for the year.
Signed in free agency last offseason, Clark was set to handle a starting role upon arrival with the Jets. The former Raven was out of the fold all season due to an ACL tear, however, leaving this past September as his first game action with his new team. Having logged a snap share of 85% prior to his injury, Clark played a key role in the Jets’ secondary when healthy and he will no doubt do so again moving forward.
New York ranks second in the league against the pass with an average of 168 yards per game allowed through the air. Maintaining that success will be necessary if the team is to make a push for the postseason over the second half of the year. The Jets sit at 3-7 and their offense sits 26th in scoring, so posting strong totals on the other side of the ball will be crucial. Clark, a pending free agent, will aim to help his market value by remaining on the field the rest of the way.
The team also elevated kicker Anders Carlson from the practice squad. Carlson was let go by the Packers ahead of roster cutdowns after just one season with the franchise. The 2023 sixth-rounder had an audition period with the 49ers over a two game span while filling in for the injured Jake Moody. Carlson was ultimately added to the Jets’ taxi squad last week as part of the team’s efforts to find a suitable Greg Zuerlein replacement.
Riley Patterson handled kicking duties for one game and went three-for-three on extra point attempts in New York’s 21-13 win. He was waived after that outing, however, with Carlson being added. Spencer Shrader was also in the picture at that point, but with Harrison Butker landing on IR he was signed by the Chiefs to fill in for the time being. That leaves Carlson – who connected on all five of his field goal attempts and three of his four extra point kicks with San Francisco – to serve as the Jets’ kicker for at least one contest.
To make room for Clark’s activation, offensive lineman Alec Lindstrom was waived. The 26-year-old has found himself on and off the Jets’ roster this season, and he made his first career regular season appearance in Week 9. provided he clears waivers, Lindstrom will be a prime candidate to be retained via a practice squad deal.
