With Frank Clark suspended, here’s the Chiefs’ pass-rush plan against Tennessee Titans

The Chiefs have another next-man-up scenario on their hands in the wake of defensive end Frank Clark’s two-game suspension by the NFL.

Losing Clark at this stage of the season is a blow to the defense, especially because he is coming a 1.5-sack performance in Week 7’s win over the San Francisco 49ers.

But Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo indicated that he believes the pass-rush situation should be fine during Clark’s absence.

“We’re fortunate that we’re getting Mike Danna back — that’s a good thing — and everybody else has got to step up,” Spagnuolo said Thursday.

Rookie George Karlaftis will likely continue to start at left defensive end, and the Chiefs have additional options for replacing Clark’s snaps. Danna missed four games with a calf injury before the Week 8 bye but will figure into the equation now that he’s back and Clark will be sitting out.

The league’s punishment levied against Clark — for violating its personal conduct policy — is in relation to two arrests he had last season for gun charges in Los Angeles. Clark resolved the matter legally in September when he pleaded no contest to two counts of misdemeanor possession of an assault weapon.

Carlos Dunlap, who has appeared in all seven games this season as part of the Chiefs’ defensive line rotation, makes sense as the first option to start in Clark’s place. Dunlap has 14 tackles, two sacks and three quarterback hits this season, and he said he looks forward to helping if he’s asked to play a bigger role.

“I guess we’re going to see this week,” he said. “Obviously, Frank has been our starter, but (defensive line) Coach (Joe) Cullen preaches everybody who is up is a starter. I call it 1A and 1B, and the next-man-up mentality: Step in, no drop-off.”

The defensive line rotation rounds out with Malik Herring and potentially second-year pro Joshua Kaindoh, who has been healthy but declared inactive through seven games.

“I mean, Carlos is there and George and Mike Danna and Malik Herring,” Spagnuolo said. “We’re talking about another young guy, because Malik didn’t play at all last year. … I thought Malik did some good things in the San Francisco game.”

Despite the optimism, it’s hard to think that Clark’s overall production and veteran presence won’t be missed. He has three sacks and seven quarterback hits so far this season, second-most on the team behind defensive tackle Chris Jones.

Dunlap said it’s up to the position group as a whole to contribute during Clark’s two-game absence.

“You’ve still got a job to do, as well, and hold it down until Frank comes back,” Dunlap said. “Because you saw what he did in his last game. And he’s going to come in hot and ready and fresh to do even more of that, so we’re going to take care of our business and hold it down for him.”

Clark is eligible to return to the Chiefs’ roster on Monday, Nov. 14, the day after the Chiefs play host to the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 10.

Jesse Newell contributed to this report.