Healthy Clowney a tonic for the defense
AFC Defensive Player of the Week looking to continue success
Barreling into the Indianapolis Colts’ backfield, Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney zeroed in on his target: quarterback Andrew Luck.
Clowney burst past a feeble blocking attempt with uncanny acceleration before drilling Luck for a clutch sack during a 37-34 overtime victory that represents the Texans’ lone win of the season.
Between that sack, another one earlier in the game and alertly pouncing on a botched snap in the end zone for a touchdown, Clowney delivered the kind of performance the Texans have been waiting several months to see.
Hampered during the first three games of the season, preseason and offseason with rust accumulated while recuperating from a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery, Clowney signaled that he’s back in a major way.
Clowney recorded four tackles for losses, four quarterback hits and two sacks against the Colts, tying his career-highs for sacks, hits, tackles for losses and fumble recoveries. He was named the AFC Defensive Player of the Week for the first time.
If Clowney can maintain that standard, the 1-3 Texans and their up-and-down defense could experience a big change of fortune.
“Yeah, I hope so,” Clowney said. “That’s what I expect out of myself. Just go and put all my effort to this team and my teammates and go out there and compete at a high level.”
Playing under a $12.306 million fifth-year club option, Clowney has seen a direct correlation between his health and his production.
When Clowney played every game last season, the former top overall pick from South Carolina recorded a career-high 9½ sacks, 21 tackles for losses and 21 quarterback hits.
This year, Clowney already has missed one game with elbow and back injuries. He was limited on the injury report Wednesday with a hamstring injury.
“I think he feels better,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said when asked why he thought Clowney played so well. “I think with JD, when he feels good, body-wise, he goes out there and he’s hard to handle.”
For one of the few times since the Texans drafted Clowney, he and J.J. Watt are both healthy and performing optimally.
Watt had two sacks against the Colts and has notched a teamhigh five sacks during the past two games. This marked the first time that Watt and Clowney had two sacks apiece in the same game.
“We’ve been trying to do that before that, but it just came together last week,” Clowney said. “Hopefully, we can continue to do the same thing we’ve been doing, putting pressure on the quarterback and just competing at a high level. I think it brings a lot of energy to our defense.”
Clowney has had at least one game with four tackles for losses in each of the past three seasons. No other player in the NFL has more than one game with four tackles for losses since 2016.
And Clowney’s 42 tackles for losses during that 33-game span is the second-most in the NFL.
Until Wednesday, Clowney had never been named Player of the Week.
For Clowney to repeat that honor, he’ll need to dominate a Cowboys offensive line that includes Pro Bowl offensive tackle Tyron Smith and Pro Bowl offensive guard Zack Martin.
With Watt back to drawing double-team blocking attention, Clowney is starting to get a few one-on-one situations. That has him licking his chops.
“Try to kill him, go run through him, get to the quarterback, no matter who I’m going against,” Clowney said. “Just try to run through this guy and get to that quarterback as quickly as possible.”
Clowney has endured a lot to get to this point, including a microfracture knee surgery at the start of his NFL career.
He’s thoroughly enjoying this big game as he tries to prove he’s worthy of a lucrative new deal in the final year of his rookie contract.
“It feels great,” Clowney said. “I’ve been through a lot and the day I walked in here, the first game ever I get hurt, battled back, got hurt again, battled back. My back’s against the wall. Just keep battling, competing and showing up. That’s the way I live and that’s what I’m going to keep bringing every week, hopefully.”