Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who has been sidelined since the first game with a knee injury, said Thursday he expects to return for Sunday’s game against the Tennessee Titans.

“I’m the best I’m going to be this season, I feel like,” Clowney said, according to ESPN.com. “Take it and go ahead and play football.”

Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft this year, had surgery Sept. 8 to repair a torn meniscus suffered during the first half of the Texans’ season opener against Washington. He returned to practice Oct. 17.

He was a game-time decision for Monday night’s game against the Pittsburgh Steelers but did not play.

Clowney said there is still soreness in his knee. “But,” he said, “there’s some stuff you gotta push through and come out here and play.”

Texans coach Bill O’Brien has said Clowney will be eased back into the rotation when he returns.