The Houston Texans are set to start training camp in West Virginia on Thursday morning. Just in the nick of time, hitting a buzzer beater, Jadeveon Clowney told Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle during his football camp last weekend that he will be ready for the upcoming season, which does in fact mean he should be participating in drills when camp begins this week.

This announcement came after a quiet offseason for Clowney. It was an offseason he began by having “minor” arthroscopic knee surgery and that many observers believed would include a contract extension to keep him in Houston for several more years. Aaron Wilson of the Houston Chronicle reports:

Clowney has received a second medical opinion this spring from Dr. James Andrews and received a positive medical prognosis. Whatever the two-time Pro Bowl selection’s level of activity is at the start of training camp in West Virginia this week -- and he’s expected to be eased into drills -- the expectation is he’ll be fine when it really matters at the start of the regular season. Clowney didn’t get into specifics about his knee, but sources not authorized to speak publicly reiterated that his health is not expected to be an issue. ”I’m ready, man,” Clowney said. “I’m very excited. I’m looking forward to the season... I’m great, I’m good. See you guys at camp.”

Clowney also spoke briefly about a possible upcoming contract extension. The Texans exercised the fifth-year option on Clowney’s rookie contract, which ties him to the team through the 2018 season. Despite the thought that the team would ink him to a long-term extension by now, there hasn’t been much publicly written about the status of negotiations. The only possible indication so far that the deal could be coming was the Texans’ decision to release Jeff Allen into the weeds, as that gives the team additional cap room, but the reality is that Allen’s release was more likely performance-related than anything else. Clowney had the following to say about his contractual situation:

“I want to be here, too,” Clowney said earlier in the offseason. “Hopefully, they lock me in. I want to be here forever. I know it will come soon. It would mean a lot.”

Whenever Clowney practices doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that he’s ready for the Patriots in Week One and that the Texans lock the monster up long-term.