Jadeveon Clowney looks on track to play vs. KC Chiefs after illness

After he was forced to sit out practice earlier this week, the Cleveland Browns look like they will have defensive end Jadeveon Clowney at their disposal on Sunday when they face the K.C. Chiefs.

Earlier this week, Clowney missed a couple key practices in the week leading up the season opener for both teams with an illness. The Browns made sure to let reporters know that it was not a COVID-related issue, but Clowney was still unable to suit up with his teammates in preparation for the game. That said, he’s a seven-year veteran who should be as plug-and-play as anyone who has been in the league as long as he has.

Clowney is the Browns’ brand new addition up front, a household name of a defensive end who signed a single-season deal with Cleveland this offseason to the tune of $10 million in order to provide some pressure from the opposing side of Myles Garrett up front for the Browns pass rush.

Jadeveon Clowney is back at practice for the Browns.

Unfortunately for Clowney, in recent seasons, his productivity has hardly matched his reputation, which means it’s hard to know exactly what he will offer the Browns at present. Last season, he had zero sacks in 8 starts for the Tennessee Titans and he was an ill fit up front for the Seattle Seahawks in 2019 as well, when he mustered only 3 sacks in a full season’s worth of playing time.

The Browns have to hope Clowney can get back to his Pro Bowl ways under defensive coordinator Joe Woods, and it will certainly help to have Garrett drawing attention on the opposite side. This week, the duo’s first test will come against two players getting used to their new environment as well with Orlando Brown Jr. at left tackle and rookie Lucas Niang at right tackle for the Chiefs. The matchups here will one of the most closely watched subplots of Week 1 for both fan bases.

That said, it’s the Chiefs interior that is likely to be the most motivated to come out and prove themselves after hearing remarks from Clowney earlier this preseason. Clowney stated that guards aren’t athletes and stated that he loved the matchup there. Joe Thuney and Trey Smith will likely have something to offer up on Sunday to come against the statement.

Clowney has 32 career sacks in 83 career games over the course of seven NFL seasons.