Jadeveon Clowney Reportedly Expected to Miss 9 Months Following Knee Surgery

The Houston Texans reportedly have more discouraging news on their hands regarding 2014 No. 1 overall draft pick Jadeveon Clowney, who underwent microfracture knee surgery Monday.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reported Tuesday that Clowney will need nine months to recover after going under the knife:

Clowney had arthroscopic knee surgery in September, missed six games and attempted a comeback, but he didn't seem to be at full speed.

John McClain of the Houston Chronicle provided more details, along with a brief overview of what preceded the surgery and input from general manger Rick Smith's:

Robert Mays of Grantland made a pertinent comparison between Clowney's situation and a similar, recent case:

Former NFL head team physician David J. Chao offers a somewhat discouraging outlook:

Clowney was supposed to be a tremendous, immediate-impact defender in Houston—a rare athletic specimen meant to be a dominant force at outside linebacker.

However, he ultimately managed just seven combined tackles and zero in four games during his rookie season. That lack of production can be attributed to injury issues, but it's nevertheless disappointing, considering the investment Smith made by drafting Clowney so high.

Houston (7-6, second place in the AFC South) is still clinging to playoff hopes at this late juncture in the season, and the Texans have managed to play strong defense even without Clowney in the lineup. A front seven that features superstar J.J. Watt and linebacker Brian Cushing, among others, has helped the team rank seventh in the NFL in points allowed.

If Clowney doesn't pan out and is never quite the same after this tricky medical procedure, though, the Texans will be wondering what could have been this year and beyond.

Had they invested a high pick in a quarterback, perhaps their record would be even better in 2014. An alternative draft choice may have given Houston a solution at the most important position, one that it has yet to solve.

Health permitting, though, Clowney's transcendent talent should eventually shine through with someone like Watt pushing him to reach his potential. If he can recover fully, Clowney should prove to be an excellent player, despite his early knee woes.