Jadeveon Clowney could make his return for the Houston Texans in the next few weeks after being sidelined since their season opener because of a knee injury.
Clowney, the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, sustained a torn meniscus in his right knee when he landed awkwardly from jump during their week 1 match against the Washington Redskins.
In a recent interview, the 21-year-old linebacker said that he is feeling better, but he is remaining cautious about the injury, knowing that it could lead to a serious one if he rushes his return.
"Rehab's coming along good," Clowney said. "I'm getting healthy. My leg's feeling a lot better -- just taking it one day at a time."
Clowney, who was originally projected to remain on the sideline for four to six weeks, admitted that his frustrations are already mounting, but he wants to make sure that his knee is healthy before making his comeback.
"It's very hard (to be patient). I keep telling guys 'I think I'm ready, I think I'm ready.' They're like man, you just got injured. They're just like, 'Take it one day at a time, you have a long career ahead of you also. Don't rush to come back one time and get hurt again,'" Clowney said. "I want my leg to be very healthy before I come back out there."
According to Clowney, the most frustrating part about the setback is that he sustained the injury from a jump and not from a contact play.
"I was very upset," he added. "I told these guys, I'd rather get hit in my knee than just a non-contact injury. Things happen, it's just how you respond to them and come back on the field."
Meanwhile, Clowney's fellow rookie Teddy Bridgewater remains doubtful for the Minnesota Vikings' match against the Green Bay Packers on Thursday after sustaining a sprained left ankle on Sunday.
Bridgewater, who started for the first time after original Viking starting quarterback Matt Cassel was ruled out for the rest of the season due to broken bones in his foot, is still optimistic, though, that he will be available on Thursday.
"We have a long time until Thursday," Bridgewater said via ESPN. "I just want to continue to rehab, do a little exercising today and see where I am these next couple of days."
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