The Houston Texans will be without defensive end Jadeveon Clowney for at least a month after the number one overall pick had arthroscopic surgery on his right knee and overall he could be out for six weeks after suffering the injury in the opening win over Washington and as the schedule picks up Bill O'Brien may think about starting Ryan Mallett over Ryan Fitzpatrick if the team struggles.
According to ESPN.com, Clowney will be out for at least four weeks and potentially six weeks recovering after suffering a torn meniscus in his right knee in the second quarter on Sunday. The Texans snapped a 14 game losing streak with a win against the Washington football team and that extended the Redskins losing streak dating back to last season. Clowney was very durable in college and only missed two games while playing at South Carolina and this is now the second surgery he has needed since getting drafted by the Texans.
The NFL preseason gave the Patriots a chance to make the Ryan Mallett trade, as they wanted to give Jimmy Garoppolo the chance to backup Tom Brady. The main target was always the Houston Texans and if Ryan Fitzpatrick struggles, head coach Bill O'Brien could start Mallett, as he has worked with Mallett in the past and could be interested in making him the starter.
According to Pro Football Talk, the Patriots had wanted to showcase Mallett this preseason in the hopes of getting a draft pick for him in a trade. The report said that while the team is comfortable with Mallett as the backup to Brady, since he is in the final year of his contract and likely will not be re-signed, the Pats hoped to get something for him in return. Peter King on the MMQB.com that Mallett could have been in danger of getting cut at the end of the preseason, but the Patriots were able to trade him for a conditional pick.
