Clowney continues to shine
LOS ANGELES – In a recurring trend that has become even more glaring since J.J. Watt and Whitney Mercilus were lost for the season with injuries, Jadeveon Clowney is a marked man on the Texans’ defense.
Despite constant double-team blocking attention, including some of the illegal variety, Clowney delivered another impactful performance. It happened in another losing cause as the Texans absorbed a 33-7 defeat on Sunday to the Los Angeles Rams at the Memorial Coliseum.
Clowney had three tackles for losses, including one sack. It gave Clowney six sacks for the season, matching his career-high he established last year when he was named to the Pro Bowl.
Afterward, Clowney expressed frustration at the lack of a holding call on Rams quarterback Jared Goff’s 94-yard touchdown pass to Robert Woods in the third quarter.
“You seen that touchdown pass he got?” Clowney said. “It was holding on that one. He pulled me by my waist in the end zone. It should have been a safety. They don’t call them calls all the time, but it happens.
“That was the momentum swing right there. Of course, it’s frustrating to be down in a game, but we’ve got to keep our composure as a defense and keep playing.”
Clowney has a dozen tackles for losses this season and passed Antonio Smith for the fifth-most tackles for losses in franchise history with 38 for his career.
“He plays hard,” Texans coach Bill O’Brien said. “Does a good job.”
Despite the Texans falling to 3-6 for the season, Clowney believes the team will keep it together.
“It’s just the type of locker room we got,” he said. “I don’t care who we’re going against or what our record looks like. When Sundays come, we’re going to compete at a high level no matter what’s going on.”
Fuller stays hopeful after rib injury
Starting wide receiver Will Fuller suffered a rib injury during the first half and didn’t return after he absorbed a crushing hit from Rams defensive back LaMarcus Joyner.
Fuller said he wasn’t sure if he had cracked ribs and will undergo X-rays.
“I’m feeling good,” Fuller said. “They’re a little sore. I should be OK.”
Fuller caught two passes for 15 yards on three targets. He entered Sunday with seven touchdowns. Subtracting the fastest player on the roster from the lineup had a negative effect for an offense that struggles to score points.
“It always hurts,” Texans quarterback Tom Savage said. “He’s a dynamic player that takes the top off the defense, and I hope he’s all right.”
Fairbairn misfires for 2nd straight week
Texans kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn missed a short field-goal try for the second consecutive week.
Fairbairn misfired from 34 yards on Sunday, missing wide left. Last week, he missed a 37-yard field goal during a loss to the Colts.
He started the season with 11 consecutive made field goals as the replacement for veteran Nick Novak, but he has faltered each of the past two games.
Miller briefly tries his hand at QB
The Texans revisited some Wildcat-style plays from a year ago, inserting wide receiver Braxton Miller at quarterback for the first time this season.
Miller, who played quarterback in college at Ohio State, handed off once and rushed once for a yard.
Donald’s dominance put on full display
Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald is regarded as the top defensive lineman in the NFL with Texans defensive end J.J. Watt out for the season with a broken leg.
Donald reinforced that reputation as he busted through a blocking attempt by Texans left guard Xavier Su’a-Filo to blast quarterback Tom Savage.
The sack and forced fumble in the first quarter led to a Rams field goal.
“I got a one-on-one,” Donald said. “I won my one-on-one and got to the quarterback. We’re just playing well. Everybody is making plays, from the guys up front, to the guys in the middle, to the guys in the back.”
“He’s a special player, special person,” Rams coach Sean McVay said. “He continues to kind of epitomize a lot of the things that we talk about in terms of what you want your players to look like.”
Odds and ends
In his first game back from a concussion that forced him to be on injured reserve for eight weeks, tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz started and caught two passes for 10 yards on six targets. … Texans offensive tackle Julie’n Davenport injured his shoulder. Guard Jeff Allen injured his hand and was replaced by Greg Mancz. … The Texans’ inactives were: linebacker Dylan Cole, defensive end Joel Heath, defensive tackle Chunky Clements, centerguard Kyle Fuller, offensive tackle Kendall Lamm, quarterback Josh Johnson and rookie cornerback Treston Decoud.