Jadeveon Clowney will hit injured reserve

Houston Texans No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney has appeared in just four games this season, and he has been unable to recover fully from a torn meniscus that he suffered in Week 1 against the Washington Redskins. Clowney also dealt with an illness after first returning from the injury, and he hasn’t played since Week 12. The Texans have never seemed to be optimistic about his chances of playing, and concerns regarding his status for the rest of the season cropped up when it was reported that he would need a second opinion from Dr. James Andrews, which usually means that surgery is looming.

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According to the Texans official Twitter account, head coach Bill O’Brien stated that the Texans will place Clowney on the injured reserve, as the former South Carolina star will need season-ending surgery on his knee. It’s a huge blow for him, but at least nobody can question his toughness; he truly was dealing with a knee injury that was more serious than initially thought.

Clowney finishes his rookie season with just seven tackles and no sacks, but he should be headed for big things if he can stay healthy next year. Injuries plagued him in college, so there will be questions regarding his ability to stay healthy in this league. However, there’s no question in my mind that he’s flashed plenty of potential during his brief times on the field, especially during the preseason, and he and J.J. Watt will once again be a huge storyline in the offseason, though it will be a slightly tweaked version.