Syracuse defensive lineman Steven Clark's football career is in jeopardy due to blood clots in his leg.
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Clark suffered a season-ending leg injury late in the 2016 season, and doctors fitted him with a brace. However, the brace was too tight, and it caused Clark to have blood clots. Doctors found multiple blood clots, and Clark also has a Factor V Leiden, a genetic condition making him more likely to develop more blood clots.
Clark could have to take blood thinners for the rest of his life, and that would prohibit him from playing football.
"If (the clot is) there, then I'll probably be on blood thinners for the rest of my life unless it goes away," Clark said on Thursday. "And if I'm on blood thinners, obviously no contact sports. But there's maybe a 10 percent chance of that happening. It's coming along really well now. I'm running better and stuff like that. I think it's not really a big chance of being DQ'd."
The 6'2, 287-pound Clark started nine games at defensive tackle for Syracuse last season, and he is expected to be a starter next season if he is healthy. He told the Post-Standard he is participating in every offseason workout he can, and he hopes the clots are gone so he can play again. He is hoping to be ready to play in three months.
"That's what we're hoping," Clark said. "It just depends on what the doctor says."
(h/t Yahoo Sports)
