Houston Texans

Texans place Clowney on PUP list

Published Jul. 27, 2015 6:04 p.m. ET

foxsports

The Houston Texans will open training camp later this week, but one of the team's most high-profile names won't be among the players taking the practice field.

On Monday, the Texans placed second-year linebacker Jadeveon Clowney on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list. The top pick in the 2014 draft, Clowney is coming off December microfracture surgery on his right knee.

The move to place Clowney on the PUP list isn't an indication he's suffered a setback as he rehabs the injury, but rather that he's simply not ready to return at this point. The 22-year-old former South Carolina star is eligible to be activated at any point during camp once he passes a physical and will still count against Houston's 90-man camp roster.

If he remains on the PUP list once the preseason ends, he would miss at least the first six weeks of the regular season.

All indications thus far have been that Clowney is on pace to return at some point during camp. Last week, Houston's team physician said Clowney "looks spectacular" in his recovery.

Clowney appeared in just four games last season, registering seven tackles.

The Texans placed inside linebacker Akeem Dent, who is also recovering from surgery on the PUP list as well.

(h/t ESPN)