Report: Jadeveon Clowney undergoes microfracture knee surgery

Houston Texans rookie linebacker Jadeveon Clowney underwent microfracture knee surgery on Monday and is expected to be out for nine months.

Houston Texans rookie linebacker Jadeveon Clowney underwent microfracture knee surgery on Monday and is expected to be out for nine months, reports ESPN's Adam Schefter. 

After being the No. 1 pick in May's NFL draft, Clowney played in just four games this season due to a right knee injury. The Texans placed him on injured reserve on Dec. 4, after the 21-year-old visited Dr. James Andrews. Head coach Bill O'Brien said at the time that Clowney would undergo surgery on his right knee.

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NFL.com's Ian Rapoport reports the surgery was done by team doctor Walt Lowe, and that the Texans expect Clowney to recover fully and hopes he will be ready by training camp.

Microfracture surgery is a surgery that aims to repair damaged cartilage in the knee. Multiple athletes have had it in the past, including NBA players Greg Oden, Jason Kidd and Amar’e Stoudemire.

Clowney missed six games after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus sustained in Houston's season-opening victory over the Washington Redskins. He returned for the team's Oct. 26 victory over the Tennessee Titans, but his knee and an illness would limit him to just two more games before going on IR. 

The rookie had seven total tackles and no sacks in his four games.

- Molly Geary