Reports: Jadeveon Clowney Tears Meniscus, Out 4-6 Weeks
By Dan Matney
Sunday was a tough debut for the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft.
Jadeveon Clowney, the prized outside linebacker out of South Carolina, had about as bad of a debut as you can imagine for a rookie. He tore his meniscus early in the week one matchup against the Washington Redskins, per NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
#Texans OLB Jadeveon Clowney slated to miss 4-6 weeks with a torn meniscus, source says. He’ll have surgery Monday. Tough start to his 2014
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) September 7, 2014
Although Clowney is expected to return around the midway point of the season, this is a big loss for the Texans defense.
The entire unit is in the process of adjusting to defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel’s newly implemented 3-4 base defense. For Clowney, who played at the 4-3 defensive end position his entire three-year college career, it might stunt his growth early on as he is still in the process of learning the nuances of the outside linebacker position.
Clowney is projected to return when Houston gets into the difficult chunk of his schedule.
If he has a speedy and recovery and is out only four weeks, Clowney will make his debut in a Thursday Night Football matchup against two-time defending AFC South champion, the Indianapolis Colts.
If he takes up to six weeks, he will see his first real action of the year against another division foe, the Tennessee Titans, who could be a darkhorse to win the division/make a playoff appearance with a healthy Jake Locker under center.
The Texans still have the best defensive player in the NFL in J.J. Watt and have an able pass rusher in Whitney Mercilus, but both the Texans and Clowney would benefit from his presence early in the year.