Houston Texans outside linebacker and No. 1 overall pick Jadeveon Clowney is likely to return from a torn meniscus this weekend against the Tennessee Titans.

Clowney spoke Thursday and said he would be stunned if he didn't play this weekend despite having some pain in the knee. Clowney was a game-time decision for the Texans on Monday Night Football and in the end did not play.

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Texans coach Bill O’Brien said that they will work Clowney into the rotation when he is ready to play, but that Whitney Mercilus’ play has earned him at least a share of the outside linebacker spot.

"When J.D. comes back, he'll have to work back into the mix," O'Brien said Tuesday. "That's not just something that's going to be handed to him, that's for sure. Whitney's played well enough to deserve playing time, that's for sure, and that'll be a competition."

"You don't just hand it to a guy coming off of six weeks being out, especially when the other guy has played pretty well," O'Brien added.

Clowney was the odds-on favorite to win Defensice Rookie of the Year before the injury, but a great second half of the season could still get him some votes. Clowney is seen as the best defensive prospect to enter the league since Julius Peppers and could get votes solely based off his reputation and consistent play for the Texans.

The Texans are coming off a first half collapse against the Pittsburgh Steelers and look to get back in the win column against a struggling Titans team.

[NFL]

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