After missing all but four games during a frustrating injury-plagued rookie season, some were already labeling Houston Texans edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney a draft bust.
But last year’s No. 1 overall pick is “on the right tack,” according to head coach Bill O’Brien.
“I’ve been impressed with the way JD’s been working,” O’Brien said, via the team’s official website. “He’s been out there. He’s in early. He’s rehabbing. But he’s also being able to take part in some of the things that we do in the weight room. He’s not able to do all of the things that we do on the field just yet, because of his rehab. But he’s on the right track.”
It remains to be seen when Clowney will be fully healthy and how effective he’ll be in 2015, as setbacks are common following microfracture surgery, which has also been known to derail careers.
Eagles edge rusher Brandon Graham, also a former first round pick, underwent the same surgery when he was Clowney’s age (22) back in December 2010 and he wasn’t back to his normal role until the 2012 season opener.
Last December, Colts offensive tackle Gosder Cherlius said Clowney was “screwed.”
“His game is all about explosion. That’s a problem,” said Cherlius, who had the operation in 2010. “I’m out there dancing. I’m an offensive lineman. That’s a different ball game. He’s screwed.”
According to Cherlius, Clowney “has to be fully, fully committed” to have a shot at redemption.
“They told me I would be back in 12 months,” Cherlius said. “I fought and came back in nine months. But it wasn’t right. It set me back for another six weeks. You are going to deal with stuff for the rest of your career. Period. You’re going to have to learn how to deal with it. And you have to be extremely disciplined. You have to do all the little things. Man, I’m telling you — it’s hard.”
Clowney also underwent surgery for a sports hernia last spring and then suffered a concussion last August during training camp. He returned in time for the season opener, but exited the game with a meniscus injury that required surgery and caused him to spend six weeks on the sidelines.
He returned to the field in Week 8 against the Titans, but missed the following week with an illness. After a Week 10 bye, Clowney came back healthy for two games before going down for the year.
“The key with JD is gonna be, once he’s cleared, then he’s got to go do it,”O’Brien said. “He’s a good football player. He’s an instinctive player. He understands what we’re trying to do in our defense.”
O’Brien also added that his 10-year-old son, Michael, asks him how Clowney’s doing every day.
“Every night when I get home, he asks me how Clowney’s doing,” O’Brien said in a recent season ticket holder Town Hall conference call. “This is probably the question that I get asked the most.”
The Texans fully expect Clowney to be “major contributor” in his second season and open the season as the starting outside linebacker opposite Whitney Mercilus, who signed a four-year contract extension earlier this month.
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