Jadeveon Clowney Injury: Updates on Texans Star's Ankle and Return

Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney sprained his right ankle during the team's loss to the Indianapolis Colts in Week 5. He didn't play in Week 6, but he's set to make his return.

Continue for updates.

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Clowney Active Week 7

Sunday, Oct. 25

The Texans announced Clowney is ready to return against the Miami Dolphins.

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Latest on Clowney's Practice Status

Thursday, Oct. 22

Head coach Bill O'Brien said Clowney looked "OK" in his return to practice Thursday, according to Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle.

Defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel said Clowney looked "so-so" and noted the defensive end was simply testing out his ankle and didn't do much, per Tania Ganguli of ESPN. 

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Texans Need Clowney Healthy to Rebound in AFC South

The Texans' season has quickly fallen apart, as they are off to a 2-4 start and cannot seem to decide who will play quarterback in a given week. Clowney, for his part, had been healthy up to this point with four starts in five games while recording nine tackles.

John Harris of HoustonTexans.com highlighted just how dangerous the Texans pass rush can be if Clowney manages to return to the field at full health alongside superstar J.J. Watt:

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I talked with Andy Staples of SI.com and, this time, I initiated the conversation about Clowney and I didn’t even need to hear his comments. His body language told it all. As soon as I asked him about Clowney, he turned to me and had this look on his face that said “you’re kidding, a healthy Clowney and J.J. Watt?”

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Watt is arguably the best defensive player in the league, Vince Wilfork is a proven commodity with Super Bowl experience, Brian Cushing is a dangerous playmaker inside and Whitney Mercilus is an underrated pass-rusher.

The Texans selected Clowney with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2014 NFL draft, but his rookie year was largely derailed by knee injuries. In fact, he tore his right meniscus early in the campaign and eventually needed microfracture surgery in December.

That is why any injury to the former South Carolina star is worrisome. It will be difficult enough to live up to the hype that surrounded him out of college as the top pick without dealing with lingering injuries in the early stages of his career. 

The Texans will need Clowney to fulfill his astronomical potential if they hope to become one of the most feared defensive units in the league, but there is more than enough in place with Watt and his teammates to fill in until Clowney returns.