The Texans held linebacker Jadeveon Clowney out of the final two preseason games because of an undisclosed injury, but the time has come for the first overall pick of the 2014 draft to return to the field.
Clowney practiced on Wednesday with his Texans teammates and coach Bill O’Brien said that Clowney would be in the starting lineup against Washington on Sunday. Brian Smith of the Houston Chronicle reports that he’ll be joined by Brooks Reed at outside linebacker and Brian Cushing on the inside with the fourth starter to be named later.
Clowney preseason work amounted to 29 snaps, so we haven’t seen too much of him in a Houston uniform. What we have seen shows that his ability to blow up running and passing plays in the backfield came with him from South Carolina and that his pass coverage skills will remain a work in progress as Clowney continues to transition from playing defensive end in college.
O’Brien also announced that Ryan Mallett will be the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday ahead of rookie Tom Savage.