Quarterbacks beware: Jadeveon Clowney is back on the practice field. The Texans activated last year's No. 1 overall pick from the PUP list Monday, and eased him back into the swing of things.
Jadeveon Clowney returns to Texans practice, says he’s ‘tired of hitting blocking dummies’
Clowney is practicing again for the first time since undergoing microfracture knee surgery last December. Opposing quarterbacks have been warned.
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“The rehab process can be monotonous,” head coach Bill O’Brien said to the media Monday. “He put in the work. We are going to ease him in and then ramp him up.”
There is no word on whether Clowney will be ready to play Week 1 against the Chiefs, but the fact that he's practicing again is a good sign. For his part, Clowney said he is ecstatic to get back on to the field.
“It’s going to be great when I can get back out there and rush the passer. I’m tired of hitting blocking dummies that don’t hit back,” Clowney said to reporters after practice, via NFL Media.
Though Clowney terrorized opposing quarterbacks in college at South Carolina, a pair of knee surgeries limited him to only four games in his rookie season. He suffered a torn meniscus in the season opener against Washington, and was subsequently placed on the IR in early December to undergo microfracture surgery.
It is tempting to already label Clowney a bust, especially given that he had an injury-riddled junior campaign at South Carolina as well. But his dominance cannot be overlooked, as he recorded 13 sacks, 23.5 tackles for a loss and was named SEC Defensive Player of the Year in 2012.
The Texans have arguably the best defensive line in football even without factoring Clowney into the mix. But if he can line up alongside J.J. Watt and Vince Wilfork with any regularity this season, look out.
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