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Texans' Jadeveon Clowney not guaranteed starting job upon return

Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Houston Texans rookie linebacker Jadeveon Clowney may return to the lineup Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

Clowney warmed up for Monday's game against the Pittsburgh Steelers, but was subsequently ruled inactive. Texans head coach Bill O'Brien commented on his status Tuesday.

"We brought him (to Pittsburgh) and we knew we were going to work him out before the game,” O’Brien told the Houston Chronicle's Brian T. Smith. "He feels good. I think before the game, he still felt his ability to cut wasn’t totally there yet but he feels really good and … we’ll see how it goes this week in practice."

Although Clowney was expected to be a major component of the team's defense this season, O'Brien didn't guarantee a starting role for his precocious rookie upon his return, citing the strong play of Whitney Mercilus.

"When J.D. comes back, he’ll have to work back into the mix," O'Brien said. "That’s not just something that’s going to be handed to him, that’s for sure.

"Whitney’s played well enough to deserve playing time, that’s for sure, and that’ll be a competition. You don’t just hand it to a guy coming off of six weeks being out, especially when the other guy has played pretty well.”

Clowney was selected first overall in the 2014 NFL Draft. 

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