Texans' Reshard Cliett on the mend from hamstring injury

For nearly an entire year, Texans inside linebacker Reshard Cliett had waited to get back on the football field.

As a rookie, Cliett spent the season on injured reserve with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and torn lateral meniscus in his right knee. The sixth-round draft pick from South Florida also underwent shoulder surgery to address an old college injury during his convalescence from the knee injury.

So, to suffer a strained hamstring on the first day of full contact drills was especially frustrating for Cliett. Cliett is now back practicing after being out for the past few weeks.

"It feels good," Cliett said. "I had strained my hamstring the first day of pads. It's starting to feel better now. I feel really good now actually."

After making a quick impression on the coaching staff and personnel department with his speed and aggressiveness as a reserve defender and potential special-teams contributor, Cliett suffered an injury that derailed a promising start to his NFL career.

Listed at 6-2, 235 pounds, the former high school safety says he actually weighs nearly 240 pounds after spending the past year working out with strength and conditioning coach Craig Fitzgerald. Cliett weighed roughly 225 pounds when he arrived last year. Cliett has maintained his speed, running the 40-yard dash in the 4.5-second range.

"The instincts are coming back right now," Cliett said. "I've been trying to focus on staying up to speed with those guys. After I get that down pat, I can look for the cues and tips the offense gives me to play faster. The first week I was kind of hesitant.

"Now, I'm getting more reps and getting more and more confident. I love the game. You have to learn how to walk again. You go through so much. I'm just happy I was able to get through it."