Clowney off to strong start after breakout 2016 season
Jadeveon Clowney emerged as a Pro Bowl selection last season — a nod to his growing skills as a pass rusher and runstopper.
The Texans’ outside linebacker/defensive end is off to another strong start. He twice sacked New Engalnd quarterback Tom Brady on Sunday and returned a fumble 22 yards for a touchdown.
“He’s an explosive player,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Even when we were researching him and studying him in college, he always had a knack for the football.
“Once he gets the ball in his hands, he can run. He can fly. He’s a 270-pound guy; he can really run.”
Clowney has 11 tackles, five for losses, and two fumble recoveries in three games this season.
“It’s very nice knowing what I’m putting in is paying off,” Clowney said. “I don’t know if there’s ever an ending to this thing, unless you’re done playing. Until that day comes, I’m just going to keep working, keep getting better, keep making a lot of plays for this team.”
Mancz ruled out; Allen will start
Texans offensive guard Greg Mancz was ruled out for Sunday’s game against the Titans because of a knee injury.
Veteran lineman Jeff Allen will start in his place at right guard. Allen had been starting until suffering a high-ankle sprain in the season opener.
Allen struggled with injuries last season during the first year of a fouryear, $28 million contract and underwent offseason ankle surgery.
“He hurt his ankle last year, hurt it again this year,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Sometimes that’s out of your control. When it’s come to his ability to play, he’s a tough guy. I think, when he’s healthy, he’s played real well.”
Texans cornerback Kevin Johnson will miss his third game in a row with a sprained medial collateral ligament in his knee.
Texans defensive end J.J. Watt (broken finger) and wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins (knee) were upgraded to full participation, along with nose tackle D.J. Reader (knee) and offensive guard Xavier Su’a-Filo (knee).
Cornerback Marcus Burley is questionable with a knee injury.
Watt still chasing 1st sack of season
For the first time in his career, Texans star defensive end J.J. Watt has been held without a sack through the first three games of the season.
Is that a sign that the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year is declining or rusty after missing most of last season due to a pair of back surgeries? Or is Watt actually performing well each week and occupying double-team blocking attention to allow teammates to thrive?
Watt’s play and the Texans’ performance suggests the latter to be the case. Watt leads the Texans with four quarterback hits. He’s tied for second on the team with three tackles for losses and ranks fourth with 13 tackles.
“I think that stat-watching becomes very tricky,” Watt said. “Just because the numbers may not be there, it’s not necessarily always reflective of exactly what’s happening. If I have to take on two guys or three guys for our guys to go get four forced fumbles in a game, I’ll do that all game long. I don’t care.
“Especially the older I get in my career; I don’t care about the stats, to be honest with you. All I want to do is win football games. But they will come. Like you said, the hits are there.”
Rookie Jackson ‘a dangerous guy’
The Texans’ vulnerable kick coverage units will face another difficult test Sunday against speedy Titans rookie cornerback Adoree’ Jackson.
The first-round draft pick from USC runs the 40-yard dash in 4.39 seconds.
He’s averaging 13.9 yards per punt return with a long return of 46 yards.
He’s averaging 20.7 yards per kickoff return with a long return of 35 yards.
“He’s a very challenging guy to deal with,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “He’s one of the better punt returners I’ve seen in a while, and kickoff returner. Every time he touches it, he’s got a chance to take it the whole way back for a touchdown.
“We have to do a great job in that area, because he’s a dangerous guy. I mean, the other day, he jumped over a guy. He’s got great athletic ability.”