Texans' Jadeveon Clowney on inactivity at start of camp: 'I was ready to go'

PHOTOS: Best photos from the Texans' training camp Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) finishes a drill during training camp at the Methodist Training Center on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in Houston. >>>Look back at the best photos from the Texans' training camp in West Virginia ... less PHOTOS: Best photos from the Texans' training camp Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) finishes a drill during training camp at the Methodist Training Center on Monday, Aug. 13, 2018, in ... more Photo: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle Photo: Brett Coomer/Houston Chronicle Image 1 of / 77 Caption Close Texans' Jadeveon Clowney on inactivity at start of camp: 'I was ready to go' 1 / 77 Back to Gallery

The roots of Texans Pro Bowl outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney's quiet start reach back to the offseason.

Clowney didn't practice during the spring after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. Days before training camp, Clowney declared that he was ready to practice and that his knee was fine.

The Texans thought differently, though, and eased him into drills. The former top overall pick wound up playing in just one preseason game. So far, Clowney has recorded only five tackles and has zero sacks. He missed one game with elbow and back injuries.

Clowney insists he was ready to go at the start of camp and he wouldn't have done anything differently.

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“There wasn’t [anything] wrong with me,” Clowney said. “I was ready to go when I came back here. That’s how I was told to be ready to go the minute you walk in the door, and I was. Whatever happened back then, we’re here now and just getting ready to prepare for the Colts and looking for a win this week.”

Clowney attributed a lot of the issues he's faced to his limited preseason work and rust.

"A lot, a lot " he said. "When you don't play football, you just can't go out there and turn it on. You have to work on your handiwork technique.

"You have to actually do it, so it’s kind of hard. Once you get going, you get the feel back in the game you’ll be ready to go.”

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When asked why he though the team took so many precautions with him, Clowney replied: "I don't know, I don't know."

When asked if he had inquired why that was the approach, Clowney said: "No, that was not my problem. I play here, just try to get better and get ready for the season and stay on the field."

Clowney was emphatic that he is going to make a bigger impact against the Colts as the winless Texans travel to Indianapolis.

"Oh yeah, this week will be a lot better for me," Clowney said. "We expect that, I expect that out of myself. I'm coming along.

"I haven't [done] a lot since the beginning of the season, no training camp, all of that, but this game should be a lot better for me.”