Clark to Sit Out Game in Denver this Sunday

Anytime the Steelers play up in Denver there is the question about it Ryan Clark is going to play or not. Last season he didn’t play in the Monday night game and the team did just fine, winning 28-10. Now it’s a preseason game, and Clark is going to do the right thing – sit it out this Sunday.

Steelers safety Ryan Clark will not play in Sunday night’s game in Denver for preventative health reasons, he confirmed to the Post-Gazette today. Clark, who lost his spleen and gallbladder after playing in the high altitude in Denver in 2007, was held out of the Steelers game there last season, a Monday night game on Nov. 9. As he did last season, Clark will make the trip to Denver and be with his teammates on the sideline. “I still want to play but I understand if I’m not going to play a Monday night game, I’m definitely not worried about this one,” Clark said. “We’ll still go through the same process. I’m glad it’s not as big an ordeal as it was last year.” Clark, who has sickle cell trait, wanted to play last year after doctors told him he was not likely to experience the same blood reaction that caused him to lose his spleen and gallbladder. However, coach Mike Tomlin took that decision out of his player’s hands and said he would not dress him for the game.