Wilson: Steelers' Clark unlikely to play against Broncos

Pittsburgh Steelers hard-hitting safety Ryan Clark is regarded as unlikely to play against the Denver Broncos, a development stemming from his rare blood condition.

APRyan Clark

Clark nearly died after playing in Denver's thin air three years ago.

He was hospitalized in Denver when complications from sickle-cell trait prevented oxygen from flowing into his spleen.

Clark is being asked not to play by his concerned teammates after he required operations to remove his spleen and gall bladder, losing nearly 30 pounds.

Clark is among the small percentage of people who aren't able to play in Denver due to the sickle-cell trait.

"It's a tough decision," Clark said. "Tough to go home and tell your wife that's been worried about you that you're going, and it's tough for me to tell the guys that I don't want to play even though I've been cleared.

"Obviously nobody's been able to say, 'If you go, you won't get sick at all. We promise you.' That would make it really easy. And none of them have said, 'If you go, you're going to die,' either. With all those opinions, I spent a month where they couldn't figure out what was wrong with me the last time, too."

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