Jadeveon Clowney has been cleared to play Sunday for the Houston Texans’ opener against the Washington Redskins. Clowney sat out the Texans’ final two preseason games after a concussion he suffered in a joint practice with the Denver Broncos.
Having Jadeveon Clowney cleared to play for the Texans’ opener is huge for Houston fans. After drafting Clowney with the top overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft, fans have been relishing the chance to see Clowney play alongside JJ Watt.
That opportunity didn’t really come together during the Texans’ preseason games.
Houston, like most NFL teams, used the preseason to tinker with schemes and lineups while evaluating their second-, third- and even fourth-string players. In addition, Clowney sat out the Houston Texans’ last two preseason games as part of his concussion rehab.
The week-three preseason game, the first of the two games Clowney missed, is when most teams play their starters for at least the first half.
Clowney suffered the concussion August 20 in a helmet-to-helmet hit with Broncos tight end Jacob Tamme. He played in the Texans’ first two preseason games, against the Arizona Cardinals and the Atlanta Falcons, before missing the team’s final two games.
It’s far too early to call Clowney injury prone, though he’s certainly had his share of boo-boos since being drafted #1 overall.
In addition to his latest concussion, Clowney reportedly played with a sports hernia during his junior season at South Carolina, had surgery to repair it earlier this year, injured his upper leg in an early-August scrimmage, and was at one point carried off the field following a preseason practice.
And that’s before ever playing a regular-season NFL game.
It appears he’ll get that chance by making his debut this Sunday against the Redskins. Clowney is known for his explosiveness off the line, something that will be useful as Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III (RG3) continues to adjust to playing more in the pocket. Clowney and Watt should prove to be an incredible test for the Redskins offensive line and help show whether RG3 will “fall back” on his scrambling abilities this season or stay more in the pocket as planned.
