NFL teams
Tania Ganguli, ESPN Staff Writer 8y

Jadeveon Clowney says he is '100 percent' healthy

NFL, Houston Texans

HOUSTON -- Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney said he is "100 percent" healthy after the team's first organized team activities practice of 2016.

Clowney missed two games due to a mid-foot sprain, which is also called a Lisfranc injury, at the end of the 2016 season. He did not play in the Texans' regular-season finale and also missed the team's playoff game because he couldn't push off on the injured left foot. Clowney admitted to being frustrated that he couldn't play in the game.

As he enters his third NFL season after being drafted first overall in 2014, Clowney faces a pivotal point in his career and his health will figure prominently. The summer after a player's third season is typically when the Texans have extended first-round picks they'd like to keep.

Houston signed 2011 draft pick J.J. Watt to an extension after the 2013 season and signed 2012 draft pick Whitney Mercilus to an extension after the 2014 season.

Receiver DeAndre Hopkins, a 2013 draft pick, could be next, but the Texans picked up his fifth-year option in case a deal can't be reached.

Clowney has yet to finish a season completely healthy. He had groin surgery a month after being drafted in June 2014 and suffered a concussion in training camp that same year. Then he tore the meniscus in his right knee in the season opener against Washington.

After having arthroscopic knee surgery for the torn meniscus, Clowney's knee continued to swell and cause pain. He had microfracture surgery on Dec. 8, 2014, to fully repair the knee.

His second season was healthier, but Clowney still faced issues. He played in 13 games, missing time due to a back injury, an ankle injury and finally the left foot injury.

Clowney said Monday he did not have offseason surgery this year, a fact that in itself sped up his offseason progress.

"After two seasons, I think I just got healthy, healthy enough to be where I need to be," Clowney said.

^ Back to Top ^