Jadeveon Clowney is expected to return to practice on Monday. Head coach Bill O'Brien outlined a plan for the second-year outside linebacker.
"We're going to get him back out there and he'll be in the walkthroughs," O'Brien said Sunday. "He'll be in the dynamic stretch period and then he'll be in individual period. We'll take it from there. We'll talk to him every single day, add a little bit more every single day, try to ramp him up as we move through the week to see where he's at by the end of the week and then evaluate it at the end of the week for the following weeks."
Clowney has been present at training camp this month, but only working on the side practice field with trainers. He's been an observer for the individual and team drills, but now he'll get a chance to join his teammates for the first time since his start against Cincinnati last November. O'Brien has remained optimistic that Clowney could play in the Texans season opener on September 13 against Kansas City.
"He's come a long way," O'Brien said. "He's worked really hard to get back to where he is right now. We're all looking forward to seeing him back out there on the field because we know he can help us. So, it will be a good day Monday for him to put the gear on and get back out there."
The Texans first overall draft pick from the 2014 NFL draft has been rehabbing his right knee after undergoing microfracture surgery last December.
View photos from the 49ers-Texans game at NRG Stadium on August 15th.
