Jadeveon Clowney blames Houston Texans turf for injury that ruled him out of Raiders game

Aug 23, 2014; Denver, CO, USA; Houston Texans linebacker Jadeveon Clowney (90) talks to wide receiver Andre Johnson (80) in the fourth quarter of a preseason game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Texans defeated the Broncos 18-17. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

Jadeveon Clowney’s injury on Sunday was one of many unfortunate early season injuries to pass rushers across the league and according to Clowney’s teammate in Houston it may have been due to the field conditions of the Texans home turf that played a hand in a meniscus injury that will sideline the #1 overall draft pick 0f 2014 for 4-6 weeks.

According to NFL.com, Swearinger says that the turf at the Texans home stadium which is brought in on trays that are grown outside the domed building with natural grass played a hand in the injury as Clowney reportedly mentioned that he landed in a hole between grass turf pieces during the team’s win over Washington.

From NFL.com

"Second-year safety D.J. Swearinger told NFL Media on Monday that Clowney said after suffering the injury that it happened after he landed on a “hole” in the turf at NRG Stadium. The retractable-roof domed facility has a natural grass surface that is grown outside the building on trays, which are brought in and pieced together to form the field.“He told me on the field when it happened, he was just like, ‘Bro, I just jumped, came down and hit one of the holes on the field,’ ” said Swearinger. “There are a few holes in the grass, so he said he thought he stepped on one of those holes and got hurt. So I told him to try and walk it off, see if he could go. He went in the next play and couldn’t go, so I told him to go to the sideline and see what’s up with it. And he went over to the sideline, and I guess that’s when they told him (he had to stay out).”Former Texans punter Brett Hartmann sued the venue-management company SMG and the Harris County Convention and Sports Corporation, but not the team in 2012. The case has not been resolved“No. 1 pick, it was his first game, a lot weighing on his shoulders and he gets hurt,” said Swearinger. “That’s something that’s tough to deal with. He’ll get in training room, get in the cold tub, get all the treatment he needs to get himself back together. And we’ll be good. … He’s gonna hit the ground running. An injury is the last thing anyone wants or expects, an injury that sits him out for a long period of time. It just tests your heart, to see where you’re at mentally and physically.”"

Clowney’s injury is a blow for a Texans season that gained early momentum as Houston beat Washington to start their season on a winning note after being the worst team in the NFL in 2013. Playing the Raiders on Sunday the absence of Clowney should help Oakland have a better chance of making sure that JJ Watt doesn’t run rampant on highly prized rookie quarterback Derek Carr with his pass rush.