Texans Hope Clowney Has Reached Injury Quota

Entering the third year of his pro career, Houston Texans pass rushing monster Jadeveon Clowney has yet to live up to the hype. A relentless spate of injuries has hampered his ability to both produce on the field and develop into a better-rounded footballer off it. But the Texans are hoping 2016 marks the start of a new, injury-free future for their still-promising prospect.

“When he’s been on the field, he’s been pretty disruptive [and] pretty impactful,” said Texans general manager Rick Smith. “It’s just that he has suffered some injuries, which you would hope…he’s already had as many as he needs to have. Just from a standpoint of luck, hopefully the guy has had his share of injuries and he will have an opportunity to play for an extended amount of time because I think what you see, when you see him on the field, you see productive play.”

So, we’re not exactly sure that injuries work on a quota-type basis, but it’s easy to see where Smith is coming from. Since being named the third ever number one pick for the Houston franchise, the slam-dunk-can’t-miss prospect has struggled to remain healthy and help fortify a talented Texans front seven.

His rookie campaign concluded with an uneventful seven tackles in four games. Last year, he sat out the entire preseason for fear of re-aggravating his tender knee. In thirteen games (nine as a starter) Clowney looked better, racking up 40 tackles, 6 passes defensed and a respectable 4.5 sacks.

Entering 2016, Houston’s intention remains the same: develop Clowney into a fearsome edge rusher who stands opposite J.J. Watt, but demands the same attention.

Boasting a young offense that includes a drastic change at quarterback, the Texans cannot afford to field a defense that can’t rush the opposing passer, and Clowney is such a key element of that recipe for success. Hopefully 2016 will see him shed his bad luck of the past and take the next step towards the becoming the generational talent everyone once pegged him as.