Texans’ defensive end Jadeveon Clowney exited the game during the team’s 17-6 victory over the Redskins. The first overall pick injured his knee during his NFL debut.
Albert Breer of NFL Network was first to report that the injury sustained was to Clowney’s MCL (via Twitter). The injury could sideline the pass rusher for between four and six weeks, reports Jason Cole of Bleacher Report (via Twitter).
While more will be known after an MRI tomorrow, according to Ed Werder of ESPN (via Twitter), Werder’s colleague Adam Schefter reports that the team fears that Clowney has suffered a meniscus tear that will require arthroscopic surgery (via Twitter).
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com confirms that the injury is indeed a torn meniscus, and reports that Clowney will have surgery on Monday (via Twitter).
Clowney had a tackle in the backfield in his first NFL game, but failed to make it to halftime healthy. Fortunately for the Texans, they have 2012 first-round pick Whitney Mercilus to replace Clowney in the starting lineup. Mercilus had six sacks as a rookie in 2012, and seven sacks last season during his sophomore campaign.