Browns' Jadeveon Clowney to 'make a call at the end of the week' to play against Chargers

BEREA − Jadeveon Clowney isn't sure if he'll be on the practice field this week. However, the Browns defensive end isn't ruling out that he'll be on the field Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers.

"I just tried to run on it, see how it felt," Clowney said Thursday morning. "See how the rest of the week goes. Make a call at the end of the week."

Clowney has missed the last two games against Pittsburgh and Atlanta after suffering a right ankle injury in the third quarter against the New York Jets on Sept. 18. He did not practice on Thursday, continuing what has been status quo since the injury occurred.

Not practicing, though, is not something Clowney believes he necessarily needs to do before he returns for a game.

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"Yeah, I did it before, a few times," Clowney said. "I should be all right. It's football."

The Browns only have one more actual practice to go before facing the Chargers. They will go through a walk-through on Saturday.

The decision on whether or not Clowney plays literally could come down to game day. At least, that's the approach he wants to take with the injury.

"Of course, of course," Clowney said. "Yeah, of course. Just take it one day at a time right now, rehab and letting the day take its course. Try to get out there, get it going, miss playing and I'm ready to be back."

The former No. 1 overall pick has been out since the 6:11 mark of the third quarter against the Jets. He suffered the non-contact ankle injury while he chased Jets quarterback Joe Flacco on an incomplete pass.

Clowney described the sprain as a "little bit of low and high, in between." However, in the moment, it was something that he knew wasn't going to be a rapid turnaround.

"I couldn't put no weight on my foot at the time," Clowney said. "It was like, I wish I could go back out here, but I couldn't bend it and I was really down about it. I've just got to get this rehab process going, this is not my first rodeo, not my first time, my ninth year, so I know how injuries happen for anybody, just do what you do to prepare yourself after that and get back, that's the biggest thing."

That's what Clowney is trying to balance as he works his way back to the field. While he has been able to move around without the use of a walking boot for more than a week, he also knows there's a difference between walking around a room and running around a football field.

Clowney also knows there's a significant risk involved with trying to rush back onto the field too early. Sunday's game is, obviously, important for the 2-2 Browns, especially coming off of last Sunday's loss to Atlanta.

However, Clowney just needs to think about a game almost literally a year ago against the Chargers, where a pre-game knee concern led him to sit out the game. From his perspective, the decision to do that, instead of push through it and potentially do longer-term damage, allowed him to play in 14 games last year, his highest total since 2018.

"That's what I'm in between now, come back too early and hurt myself for the rest of the season," Clowney said. "I want to be out there with my teammates more than anything and I love to play the game, so it's fun. I don't have fun when I'm hurt, nobody does, training, rehab, just coming to work and knowing that every day is boring. Just trying to help myself, come in, put the hours in and try to get better so I can get back out there fast with my teammates."

Clowney was having a strong first game and a half before the injury occurred. In the Jets game alone, he had two tackles, plus a sack in which he both stripped Flacco of the ball and recovered it.

The first play of the opener at Carolina was Clowney getting into the backfield and batting down a Baker Mayfield pass. He finished with a pair of batted passes, along with a half sack and three assisted tackles against the Panthers.

That was just one reason why Clowney found himself frustrated with the latest in what has been a career-defining trait.

"I just don’t like the injury train," Clowney said. "I just know what comes with it. It’s like early mornings, late nights, staying up just trying to do everything you can to get back. I hate the process, but I know what it takes to get back. I just didn’t want to go through it. I was mad it happened to me at that time. And I’m sure anybody will tell you, you don’t want to be hurt in this league. But the chances are, anytime you walk out there, it can happen."

The last two-plus weeks have shown exactly that, especially with the Browns' defensive line. Clowney's injury was one of three major ones sustained among the four starters up front.

Defensive tackle Taven Bryan suffered a hamstring injury in the third quarter of the Sept. 22 win over Pittsburgh. On Sept. 26, after leaving the team facility, All-Pro defensive end Myles Garrett sustained a sprained left shoulder and a right biceps strain when he rolled his Porsche 911 Turbo S while driving on State Road.

With all three players out, the Browns allowed the Falcons to rush for 172 yards in the second half, including 10 consecutive runs on a 75-yard scoring drive. That drive was one of three consecutive second-half scoring drives to help Atlanta rally for a 23-20 win.

"It's very tough to watch a team go out there and play without you no matter what's going on in the game," said Clowney, who was in street clothes on the sideline in Atlanta. "I just wanted to be out there with them and support them and give it my all out there with them. Just trying to get back so I can do that now."

Garrett and Bryan both returned to the practice field on Wednesday. Browns defensive coordinator Joe Woods essentially said the expectation was for Garrett to play against Los Angeles, and there's been no indication Bryan wouldn't be back as well.

That leaves just one defensive line starter whose status remains truly up in the air. That would be Clowney, who admits he's itching to be able to get his own shots in against the NFL's top passing offense, led by the NFL's top passer in Justin Herbert.

"It would be great to have the whole front back," Clowney said. "Any time you're going against a passing team, that's what D-linemen dream of, rushing the passer and getting after the quarterback. We're trying to get healthy as a group up front and the whole team and get ready to go."

Contact Chris at ceasterling@thebeaconjournal.com.

On Twitter: @ceasterlingABJ

This article originally appeared on Akron Beacon Journal: Jadeveon Clowney won't rule out return for Browns against Chargers