HOUSTON -- Texans rookie Jadeveon Clowney will miss Sunday's game against the Tennessee Titans after suffering a setback in his knee rehabilitation.
"Part of it is just being unlucky," Texans coach Bill O'Brien said. "He's had a year here that's been tough for him as far as injuries go. He had the hernia at the beginning of the year, he had the concussion [during the preseason], he's got the knee he's dealing with for all of the year. He's played some; sometimes he hasn't been able to play. I think we've got to continue to manage it and communicate with him as to how he feels and just stay on that road right now."
Clowney, the first overall pick in this year's draft, has played in just four games this season.
He suffered a torn meniscus in the first half of the opener and had arthroscopic knee surgery the next day. The outside linebacker missed the next six games before returning in the Texans' first meeting against the Titans on Oct. 26. He missed Houston's following game due to the knee and a bout with the flu. Clowney then returned for the Texans' past two games against the Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.
In the week leading up to the Nov. 23 matchup against the Bengals, Clowney's knee became problematic again. He suited up anyway, but said he experienced swelling in it after playing a season-high 49 snaps on defense.
Though Clowney began the season listed as the Texans' starting jack linebacker, Whitney Mercilus took over the mostly pass-rushing position in his absence. Mercilus remained the starter even when Clowney returned, and has four sacks this season.