The Houston Texans' defense has had their struggles thus far this season. The good news is that help may be on the way. First-round draft pick Jadeveon Clowney hopes to play on Sunday against the Tennessee Titans.

On Thursday afternoon, Jadeveon Clowney said he would play on Sunday. According to Texans defensive coordinator, Romeo Crennel, if he does play, he will be limited. Clowney would reportedly only be on the field during third downs. Clowney, who hasn't played since week one due to a knee injury, has been making progress as of late. He isn't prepared to play a full game, but he is showing signs of getting back on the field. On Monday night when the Texans faced the Steelers, Clowney was questionable, but ended up not playing.

One of his biggest problems thus far was being able to run laterally. When linebackers can't run laterally, then what is the point of them playing? We will have to wait and see if Clowney will play or not, but it does seem likely that he will play. He'd be surprised if he didn't play, but the decision is up to the coaches as well. Expect more coverage about this situation as Sunday approaches.

There is also another player to look for the Texans. Linebacker Brian Cushing will not play against the Titans. After dealing with knee injuries in the past, his knee is starting to bother him again. After tearing his ACL twice, injuries were a concern for Cushing coming into this season. The past two games, Cushing looked very slow. Missed tackles and lack of speed have been shown by Cushing as of late. He said he has been bothered by his knee for the past two games. With that being said, he has been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Titans. 

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About the author
Adam Abramson
17 year-old sports writer from Houston, Texas. Favorite teams include the Houston Rockets, Houston Astros, and the Houston Texans! You can follow him on Twitter @Adam_VAVEL