Jadeveon Clowney Injury: Updates on Texans Star's Knee and Recovery

Jadeveon Clowney continues to recovery from surgery to repair the knee injury that ended his rookie season.

Continue for updates.

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Smith Speaks on Clowney's Recovery

Thursday, Feb. 19

Texans general manager Rick Smith commented on Clowney's recovery, saying the team is hopeful he'll be healthy for Week 1, via Around the NFL.

Smith also said he believes that Clowney can still be a "very impactful player," via Drew Dougherty of the Houston Texans.

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Smith Speaks on Clowney's Work Ethic in Rehab

Thursday, Jan. 22

While Clowney is yet to put weight on his right knee, Smith says the team's top overall selection has been "diligent" in his rehab from microfracture surgery.     

"That surgery requires a pretty significant amount of time that you are not weight bearing, and then you kind of gotta work yourself back to it. He's been diligent in his rehab," Smith said on Sirius XM NFL radio Thursday, per Tania Ganguli of ESPN.com. "That's the thing he can control right now. He understands that. It's an arduous process for him because he's limited right now in what he can do."

Clowney, 21, underwent surgery last month to repair damage in his knee that ruined his rookie season. The former South Carolina star and No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft was limited to four appearances, making seven tackles and failing to record a sack. The microfracture procedure was Clowney's second surgery on his right knee, which also needed a scope earlier in the season.

David Richard/Associated Press

The Texans have said they expect Clowney to make a full recovery, but it's a difficult procedure that doesn't always have the desired effect.

Designed to regenerate cartilage, microfractures involve poking holes in a patient's bone to stimulate blood flow and alleviate pain. NBA center Greg Oden underwent multiple microfracture surgeries that ultimately halted his career. A nine-month timetable was given when Clowney went under the knife, but it's too early in the process to know whether he'll be ready for the start of training camp or the regular season.

"He's anxious to make the contributions that we all know he's capable of making," Smith said. "Some of the things, the flashes that we saw even in the preseason, it's important to him that he returns to full health so that he can contribute and help our football team."

It's impossible to know at this point whether Clowney will ever be capable of making that expected contribution. For a guy who looked like a guaranteed perennial Pro Bowler when the Texans selected him last May, he's still early in what's going to be an arduous process.

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