The Sports Xchange

Houston Texans outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney is making significant progress in his recovery from microfracture surgery.

In an interview with Forbes, Texans team physician Walt Lowe said Clowney “looks spectacular” seven months after surgery on his right knee.

“The real goal in the end is to have him be who he was before he got hurt,” Lowe told Forbes.

Texans head coach Bill O’Brien has been hopeful last year’s No. 1 overall pick will be ready to play in Week 1. Clowney has spent the offseason rehabbing and taking part in some weight room activities

Clowney was limited to four games in his rookie year, making just five tackles. He suffered a lateral right meniscus tear in the Texans’ 2014 season opener, had arthroscopic knee surgery the next day and attempted to return to the field in the following month.

Due to articular cartilage damage, Clowney underwent microfracture surgery on Dec. 8.

As part of that rehab, the Texans have used blood flow restriction therapy, which is designed to minimize muscle deficits early in rehab, according to ESPN.com. The Texans were the first team in the league to implement such training, which is also called “tourniquet” training.