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The No. 1 pick in the 2014 NFL draft will have final say in when he returns to action. Or at least a voice in the decision.
Jadeveon Clowney practiced Friday and will go through the Saturday and Sunday walkthroughs, marking the first time the Texans rookie linebacker worked out with his team since tearing his right meniscus cartilage during the first half of a Week 1 game against Washington.
Clowney said he is day-to-day and unsure whether he will play Monday at Pittsburgh. There are football activities with which he struggles, such as changing direction. But the former South Carolina star wants to play versus the Steelers and is expected to be a game-time decision.
"Coach (Bill O'Brien) has got my best interest, I believe," Clowney said at NRG Stadium. "He told me when I'm ready to come back and I'm feeling good to where I want to play, to let him know and that's what I'm going to do."
"He seemed to be moving around decently," O'Brien said. "He didn't take a ton of reps (Friday) but the ones that he did, he seemed to be moving around well. It's obvious that he's been in the meetings and studying, because in the reps that he did take he knew what to do, which is a good sign."
Clowney is at the end of his six-week return timetable. If he doesn't play against Pittsburgh, an Oct. 26 contest at Tennessee is next on the calendar.
It seems like Jadeveon Clowney is going to be a game-time decision leading up to the game on Monday Night. I was sort of expecting that all week long. At least he participated in most of the practice drills yesterday. The Texans play the Steelers and Titans on the road, and then they play the Eagles at home before their bye week.
It would be nice to win at least two of these games if not all three. Ideally it would be huge to go into the bye week with a 6-3 record. That would increase their chances to make the playoffs. There really isn't any margin for error after losing the past two games. If the Texans lose to the Steelers their chances to make the playoffs or clinch a wild-card spot in the AFC go way down.
Jadeveon Clowney at 70 % healthy is still better then Whitney Mercilus at 100 %. He'd be an instant upgrade right now. Another week of not playing would probably be better for him the way it's looking, but at some point he has to shake off the rust and just get in there and hit somebody.
I don't want the 2014 season to go to waste. I still have some hope of the Texans making the playoffs. They need to man up and win these tough games. There weren't any moral victories with one-score losses against the Colts and Cowboys. All that matters are wins. The standings aren't always fair. Beat the Steelers on Monday Night before this season starts to slip away.
The difference between a 4-3 and 3-4 record is pretty significant. We'll know a lot more about this season after the Steelers game.