National Football League

Sources: Jadeveon Clowney out 4-6 weeks with meniscus tear

Published Sep. 7, 2014 9:47 p.m. ET

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Houston's Jadeveon Clowney, the top overall pick in this year's draft, tore the meniscus in his knee and could miss four to six weeks, FOX Sports Texans Insider John McLain and other media reported.

According to McLain, 2012 first-round pick Whitney Mercilus will start in Clowney's place.

NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported that, according to a source, Clowney will have surgery on Monday.

Immediately after the game, Texans coach Bill O'Brien didn't provide much more information on the injury, and did not offer up much in the way of possible missed time.

"They think it's a good prognosis, so it looks like it's going to be OK," O'Brien said. "He may miss some time, he may not. Who knows? So we'll know better as the week goes on."

It wasn't clear how Clowney was injured, but it happened late in the second quarter of the Texans' 17-6 win. He looked to be arguing with the team doctor as the pair walked off the field to the locker room a couple of minutes before halftime.

Clowney has struggled to stay on the field since joining the Texans. He left a dual practice Aug. 20 after a helmet-to-helmet hit with Denver Broncos tight end Jacob Tamme. He missed the Texans' final two preseason games, but said he passed the NFL protocols for head injuries in just over a week. He had to sit out the beginning of camp, too, after offseason surgery to repair a sports hernia.

Washington nose tackle Barry Cofield and tight end Jordan Reed were injured against the Texans in the first half. Cofield injured his ankle and Reed his hamstring.

Neither player returned.

MORE: For more NFL Week 1 injury updates click here.

— The Associated Press contributed to this report