Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney poses for a photo with fans Tuesday during his first practice back with the team after signing.
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Jadeveon Clowney made his return to Houston Texans training camp Tuesday for the first time in years as his reunion with the team officially started.
Clowney said there is nothing personal with the organization over his exit in 2019, when he was traded to the Seattle Seahawks following unsuccessful contract negotiations and the deterioration of his relationship with then-head coach Bill O’Brien.
“I ain’t had no hard feelings. It was just O’Brien at the time,” Clowney said with a chuckle. “Me and him bumped heads, and I couldn’t really understand because I was an easygoing guy. I was like, ‘All right, whatever you want from me’ type of guy. Especially when I’m 21 years old, 22 years old, I was just taking people’s advice instead of really looking in the mirror trying to figure myself out.”
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ALEXANDER: How Jadeveon Clowney fills a need for Texans
Clowney, the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft, made the Pro Bowl in each of his final three seasons in Houston but hasn’t made it since departing for Seattle. He played for six teams over his seven seasons outside of Houston.
Clowney said getting traded helped him mature because it changed his mindset. In his first tenure in Houston, he was the Texans’ No. 1 pick and viewed as such. Clowney said when you’re not viewed as a team’s pick, you aren’t going to be handed jobs. You have to take them.
“I’m just a guy they picking up so let me go ahead and put my foot down and show them what I got,” Clowney said. “That’s what I’ve been doing year after year after year in my career. I hope I can continue to do that this year and help this team.”
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Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney grabs an inflatable football as he does a social media skit during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) interacts with fans while signing autographs during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) laughs while signing autographs during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney poses for a photo while signing autographs during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney signs autographs during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive ends Jadeveon Clowney (90) and Will Anderson Jr. run a pass rush technique drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. runs a pass rush technique drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans tight end Cade Stover (8) runs the ball after making a catch, with cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) defending during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws a pass during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) calls out a play during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans offensive linemen Sam Hagen, left, and Trent Brown (77) run blocking drills during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans running back David Montgomery (32) runs the ball during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans running back David Montgomery (32) runs the ball as safety Jaylen Reed (23) cones in to defend during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Daniel Sobkowwicz (17) makes a catch with Houston Texans cornerback Stephen Hall (41) defending during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson (88) battles to make a catch against cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) knocks the ball away from wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson (88) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) knocks the ball away from wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson (88) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Tremon Smith (11) knocks the ball loose from Houston Texans wide receiver Jared Wayne (89) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Jha’Quan Jackson (88) battles to make a catch against cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans wide receiver Justin Watson (84) makes a catch against cornerback Collin Wright (37) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans tight end Jha’Quan Jackson (88) leaps to make a catch against cornerback Brandon Codrington (17) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans tight end Jha’Quan Jackson (88) can’t come down with a catch against cornerback Tremon Smith (11) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws to tight end Dalton Schultz (86) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) throws to tight end Dalton Schultz (86) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterbacks Davis Mills (10) and C.J. Stroud (7) drop back to pass during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Kaevon Merriweather (21) reaches out to make a catch during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans running backs go through a ball security drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans safety Jaylen Reed (23) knocks a ball loose during a drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud (7) and running back Woody Marks (4) shake hands during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans tight ends Brevin Jordan (9) and Cade Stover (8) runs through a special teams drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. catches a ball during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney warms up during his first practice returning to the Texans during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive end Will Anderson Jr. (51) runs onto the field during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud jogs to the field during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans place kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn kicks a soccer ball around during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans long snapper Austin Brinkman (40) lines up to make a snap as Houston Texans place kicker Ka’imi Fairbairn stands by with his foot on a soccer ball during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans defensive end Jadeveon Clowney (90) makes his way to the field with wide receiver Tank Dell (1) and cornerback Kamari Lassiter (3) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans offensive linemen Blake Fisher (57), Aireontae Ersery (79) and James Neal II (70) walk to the field during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans tight end Cade Stover walks to the field during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Houston Texans cornerback Collin Wright knocks the all away from wide receiver Justin Watson (84) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Clowney excited to learn playbook in training camp
Clowney played last season with the Dallas Cowboys, finishing the year with 8 ½ sacks and 12 tackles for loss in 13 games.
But Clowney didn’t sign with the Cowboys until September. It wasn’t the first time he joined a team right before the season or after the season started. The Texans traded him to Seattle on Aug. 31, 2019. The Ravens signed him in the middle of August in 2023.
Clowney might not have been in camp when it started last week but the 33-year-old defensive end has plenty of time to learn DeMeco Ryans’ system. He said that having some time to learn the playbook before games start is something he is looking forward to doing.
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“You know how hard it is to play when you don’t know the scheme?” Clowney said. “You play a lot slower than you normally want to because you gotta look across the field. Somebody gotta tell you what to do … I’ve been doing that for so many years throughout my career.”
Houston Texans wide receiver Jayden Higgins (81) hauls in a catch against cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Jayden Higgins continues to standout
Wide receiver Jayden Higgins had another good day of practice, and his connection with C.J. Stroud continues to grow stronger.
Stroud and Higgins connected on two passes in team drills for first down — including one against Derek Stingley Jr.
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Higgins also made catches in 7-on-7 drills and a one-on-one touchdown against the All-Pro cornerback. Higgins had a solid rookie season, catching 41 passes for 525 yards and six touchdowns.
But offensive coordinator Nick Caley and Stroud believe Higgins can help elevate this offense to another level if he plays well this season.
He came into camp looking bigger, stronger and faster and that was evident in the 1-on-1 catch he had against Stingley. Stingley tried to press Higgins at the line of scrimmage, but Higgins broke free and created enough space that he had an open path to the end zone for an easy catch.
Through one week, Higgins has been one of the standouts. And that’s great for Stroud, as well. The Texans’ offense struggled to get much traction from their receivers, outside of Nico Collins, in 2025.
Houston Texans linebackerd Azeez al-Shaair (0) Marte Mapu (14) tangle during a special teams drill during an NFL training camp practice at Houston Methodist Training Center in Houston, Tuesday, Aug. 4, 2026.
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Azeez Al-Shaair on adding Clowney to the defense
Linebacker Azeez Al-Shaair, a Texans captain the past two seasons, celebrated his 29th birthday Tuesday.
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And while signing Clowney doesn’t count as a birthday gift for the Pro Bowl linebacker, Al-Shaair said he is happy to have Clowney on the team.
“Rich get richer,” Al-Shaair said of the move.
Other notes
When asked if this would be his “last stop,” Clowney said he doesn’t know and makes decisions year by year.
Al-Shaair and tight end Dalton Schultz both went down at the end of practice and were slow to get up after a play. However, Al-Shaair said he felt “great” after practice.
As the corresponding move after signing Clowney, the Texans placed WR DJ Turner on the reserve/injured list.
Collin Wright, an undrafted free agent cornerback out of Stanford, had a good practice. He won a rep during one-on-ones and then picked off Graham Mertz during 7-on-7 drills.