Jadeveon Clowney says he played with sports hernia during final season with South Carolina Gamecocks
By Sydney Hunte
An interesting bit of news came out from the NFL Rookie Symposium, which started this week, regarding a certain former South Carolina Gamecocks defensive back that was selected #1 in the 2014 NFL Draft. Straight from Houston Chronicle Houston Texans beat writer John McClain:
I just spoke with Gil Brandt at rookie symposium. Clowney told him today he played with sports hernia last season at South Carolina.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) June 26, 2014
As far as his recovery from his surgery a few weeks ago:
Clowney underwent surgery to repair sports hernia 2 weeks ago and missed last 2 OTAs and 3 day minicamp.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) June 26, 2014
Clowney said his recovery is day to day and couldn't say for sure if he'd be 100 perfect for start of camp.
— John McClain (@McClain_on_NFL) June 26, 2014
Now, we already knew that Clowney had the sports hernia and that he had gone in for surgery. What we didn’t know was that he had played the 2013 season with it, along with the other various injuries he had been dealing with (bone spurs, ribs, etc.).
On one hand, it’s interesting that Clowney was even able to still compete the way he did with the injury, and it explains part of why his production decreased, but also makes his pro day performance that much more impressive. On the other hand, if he suffered it before (or during) the season and didn’t tell the Texans, he could find himself in some trouble for not disclosing it.
Time will tell if Clowney’s ready, but this is an about face from his previous comments about it not being an issue last season. More to come, we’re sure.