Will the Titans have Clowney on the edge?
3-time Pro Bowler Jadeveon Clowney could end up missing time due to an issue with his meniscus, but right now Tennessee Titans Head Coach Mike Vrabel isn’t ready to make any decision.
To say the very least, Jadeveon Clowney has had a very rough 2020 campaign thus far. It seems to have taken a turn for the worst over the last 48 hours.
Clowney was inactive for the Titans’ 24-17 victory over the Bears after not practicing all week and initially being listed as questionable. It doesn’t help his case that the game he missed turned out to be one of the best games by the defense all season.
Per NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo, Clowney is dealing with an issue with his meniscus that could require surgery.
From @gmfb Weekend: Jadeveon Clowney is dealing with meniscus issue in his knee, sources tell me. All options, including surgery, are on the table for the #Titans' edge rusher. He's questionable for tomorrow vs. the #Bears, as he's been trying to battle through the issue. pic.twitter.com/U5UA5xjnTm
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) November 7, 2020
In seven games so far this season, Clowney has yet to register a sack this season after signing a one-year year deal worth $13M. Though he hasn’t lived up to his contract so far this season, he has had his moments of being disruptive.
That being said, the Titans did pick up three sacks against the Bears in his absence, and his replacement, Derick Roberson looked really solid in his place.
Clowney’s history of knee issues has been somewhat extensive.
In his first NFL game in 2014 against Washington, where he suffered what would turn out to be a torn meniscus. He would have surgery on his right knee, and wouldn’t return until Week 8 of that season. He would end up playing just four total games before being placed on injured reserve, and he had microfracture surgery on his knee that December.
He had no more diagnosed issues with his knee until January of 2017 where he would have arthroscopic surgery on his left knee. He would again have surgery the very next year.
Theoretically, a meniscus injury, depending on the severity, is something that Clowney can feasibly play through. That being said, him being inactive this week does not bode well for the prospects of him playing the rest of the season. If he does require surgery for it, he could be placed on injured reserve, which would keep him out for at least the next three weeks, if not all of 2020.
It is still too early to tell what exactly will happen, but one would think that his status for Thursday’s clash with the Indianapolis Colts is in doubt.