The Houston Texans got an unfortunate blow when former All-Pro edge rusher Jadeveon Clowney, who is currently on his second stint with the team having initially been drafted by the franchise with the first overall pick back in 2014, was held out of practice on Monday. With reporters curious about any issues concerning the 33 year old, head coach DeMeco Ryans cleared up the situation speaking to the media after practice. "Texans coach DeMeco Ryans on Jadeveon Clowney: 'lower leg injury, we expect him back soon,'" Aaron Wilson reported on Aug. 24.
"Soon" is far from a clear temporal index; it can mean days, weeks, or even a couple of months. But the framing of the answer, combined with the fact that Ryans put the information forth to the public to detail that it would be "soon" rather than a more generic answer – such as that the organization did not have a specific timeline for his return – certainly bodes well for the length of his projected recovery. Nevertheless, lower leg injuries are never desirable, especially pre or early on in the season, as they can have a habit of recurring, giving players issues and affecting their play throughout the rest of the season, especially for a veteran like Clowney who will turn 34 years old on the day of Super Bowl LXI – which also happens to be Valentine's Day.
The good news for the Texans is that the he is not the be-all or end-all for their pass rush. All-Pros Will Anderson and Danielle Hunter are the starts in Houston, with Clowney having been acquired this offseason to provide depth and cover as a talented, veteran, high-end rotational defensive end.
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