2014’s Five Worst Moments In Houston Sports

Sep 7, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans linebacker

(90) rushes Washington Redskins quarterback

III (10) during the game at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

“The 1st Overall Clunker”

2.  Jadeveon Clowney’s season-ending injury 

The Houston Texans forgettable 2-14 2013 season resulted in them being rewarded with the No. 1 draft pick.

We speculated throughout the off-season in regard to what they’d do with pick.

Trade it?  Draft Johnny Manziel? Blake Bortles? Khalil Mack?

Nope, they did what they were supposed to and drafted the best player available — JD Clowney.

We were all excited on draft day as we had one of the greatest defensive talents to drop in our laps in quite some time.

Well, since J.J. Watt.

Nov 23, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) in action against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

He was ready to take his spot on the other side of the defensive line opposite Watt as they’d provide a one-two punch in terms intense pressure/pass rush to drive offenses bonkers.

If Watt would command the double or triple-team coverage, Clowney would make opponents pay with his talents.

That’s what was SUPPOSED to happen.

But things went south quickly after the Week 1 home opener against the Washington Redskins when he injured his knee on a play as he was looking to stop Robert Griffin III.

He had blamed the holes in the seams — via D.J. Swearinger — of the playing surface at NRG Stadium as the cause of his injury.

It was determined that he needed surgery to repair it and he was due to miss four to six weeks.

He did return to limited action in Week 8 against the Tennessee Titans and seemed to make some level of progression.

But something was not right as he didn’t seem to still be the same player he once was out there as a few weeks had gone by.

Nov 23, 2014; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) in action against the Cincinnati Bengals at NRG Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Many people had questioned his mental/physical toughness but he was still in pain and one could see it.

The Texans did seek an opinion from Dr. James Andrews, the epitome of authority in sports medicine and it was determined that another surgery was needed.

He was placed in the injured reserve list and underwent microfracture surgery Dec. 9 with an estimated six to nine months for his recovery.

This news was devastating for Texans fans that had expected so much out of him.

I just criticize the Texans for being so secretive about his progress because his character certainly took a beating while all of this was going on.

The success rate for these type of surgeries are mixed so it remains to be seen if he will ever be the same player he once was pre-injury.

With Clowney likely to return after training camp just before or after the start of the 2015 season, I’ll have to reserve judgement until then.

We can only hope that we see the same player that terrorized defenses in his collegiate career.

Fingers crossed.