The Sports Xchange

Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney’s long-anticipated return took place Monday morning with the No. 1 overall pick in last year’s draft saying he felt “pretty good.”

Clowney was officially activated from the physically unable to perform list to practice on a limited basis in his first football activity since undergoing microfracture knee surgery in December.

The 22-year-old Clowney didn’t wear a brace on his knee and didn’t experience any soreness, according to the Houston Chronicle.

“I feel pretty good,” Clowney said Monday. “Just happy to be back out there and be with my teammates. Means a lot to me to be back with the guys.”

The Texans signed Clowney to a four-year, $22.272 million guaranteed contract last year that includes a $14.518 million signing bonus after drafting him first overall out of South Carolina.

Clowney had been working on the side with trainers during training camp, running and doing change-of-direction drills to regain his mobility and explosiveness.

“It was hard work,” Clowney said about the rehab. “I had a lot of assistance from my teammates, the trainers, my family and everyone who has supported me through the whole thing. I still have a ways to go, but we are in the right direction.

“(I worked) more than I’ve worked in my whole life, probably. It was worth it. Just to be back out here, it was all worth it.”

Clowney will do individual drills but no team drills until the doctors, trainers and coaches sign off that he is ready, with a goal to play in the season opener against the Kansas Chiefs on Sept. 13.

“I was like, ‘Coach, let me get some pass rush today,'” Clowney said. “He was like, ‘We’re going to take it slow. You’ll have plenty of opportunities.’ I’m tired of hitting blocking dummies that don’t hit back. Now it’s like being the new kid on the team again. It was fun.”

Clowney was limited to seven tackles in four games as a rookie, dealing with a concussion in the preseason, a torn meniscus that required surgery in September and the microfracture surgery.