Titans news: When the Tennessee Titans signed Jadeveon Clowney, they envisioned having the All-Pro edge rusher providing a huge boost to their defense. Instead, Clowney’s injury woes have returned following his latest season-ending surgery.
The Titans placed Clowney on injured reserve in November, hoping some time off would allow the Pro Bowl edge rusher to return before the NFL Playoffs. Unfortunately for Tennessee, that proved not to be the case.
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According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, Clowney underwent season-ending surgery to repair his left meniscus. The procedure is followed by a recovery process that will take multiple months, forcing him to miss the remainder of the season.
The surgery, performed by Houston Texans physician Dr. Walt Lowe, should allow Clowney to be healthy before free agency opens. However, the 27-year-old will likely find a limited market for his services in free agency.
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It’s a situation Clowney should be very familiar with. Entering free agency this past offseason, Clowney expected a market-setting contract. But teams were concerned about his work ethic and fearful regarding his durability.
Clowney played in just four games in his rookie season, missing a majority of the year with a torn meniscus and a follow-up surgery in his knee. During the 2019 season, Clowney’s durability issues and inconsistency reappeared. A core muscle injury caused him to miss time, and he played hurt for the Seattle Seahawks.
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The Titans signed Clowney to a one-year, $13 million contract before the regular season. When he was on the field, he produced 28 pressures and 11 run stops. However, he failed to record a sack this year.NFL teams will have renewed concerns about Clowney’s availability for a full season, playing on two knees that have each undergone surgeries.
While the 2021 NFL free agency class is loaded, Clowney isn’t the reason why. Ultimately, he might have to settle for another one-year contract this offseason.