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Texans “encouraged and impressed” by Jadeveon Clowney’s progress

Houston Texans v Cleveland Browns

Houston Texans v Cleveland Browns

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It’s been almost a year since the Texans made linebacker Jadeveon Clowney the top pick in the 2014 draft and the team’s hoping for a bigger impact from the former South Carolina star in his second pro season.

His first season was almost a complete washout because of a knee injury that forced him to miss 12 games and led to a pair of surgeries, including a microfracture operation that set up an offseason of rehab. Clowney said recently that he’s encouraged by the progress he’s made in rehab and General Manager Rick Smith said the same thing on Tuesday while adding that the team has big plans for him in 2015.

“I’ve been encouraged and impressed. He’s doing well. We expect him to be a major contributor this year,” Smith said, via the team.

The Texans had the best defensive player in the league last year in defensive end J.J. Watt and the prospect of putting a healthy Clowney on the field with him conjures up images of a defense that can overwhelm opposing offenses. Until Clowney gets on the field, though, we won’t know what impact the surgeries might have on his ability to fulfill Smith’s expectations.