FRISCO, Texas – As the Cowboys prepared to play their Week 3 game against the Bears, they added some depth at defensive end by signing former number one overall pick Jadeveon Clowney.
After a couple of practices with the team, signs pointed to Clowney not playing and he was made inactive. Head coach Brian Schottenheimer said they'll see how this week goes with him, but said things are trending towards Clowney making his debut this coming Sunday.
"I was hoping I went last Sunday," Clowney said. "But, looking forward to this Sunday again, and I just keep working throughout the week. Like I said, I prepare like I'm going, like every man in here should be, we don't know who is going to be up. You just prepare like a pro and get ready to go. And yeah, I think I'm going to go."
He especially wants to go this week after being so eager last Sunday, where the Cowboys defense allowed 31 points and 385 yards of offense to the Chicago Bears in a loss. Having to sit on the sidelines and watch wasn't easy, because Clowney believes he can make an impact on this defense.
"Very tough, especially because I thought I was going to play a little bit," Clowney said. "Yeah, it was tough, but like I said, just get ready for my opportunity when it comes. Hopefully I get one this week."
Just how much does Clowney think he can bring to the defense?
"A lot, man," Clowney said. "Just bringing my energy, my effort out there, and I think that's going to be enough for me. Just let my play do the talking."
During the offseason after his one and only year with the Panthers in 2024, Clowney was not signed with a team and did not go through training camp. He did however spend time training in Houston, which he believes is more than enough to keep him ready for his next chance.
"I feel good. Football, it's coming back, like riding a bike," Clowney said. "Just get out there and go, and work your hands and make sure you just run to the ball, you'll get in shape."
When you've been around like Clowney has, it doesn't take much time to get back in the swing of things. That was the case when he signed with the Titans in 2020, as he signed with Tennessee six days before the team's opener against the Denver Broncos. Clowney played in that game, registering three tackles and a hit on the quarterback in a Titans win.
That was when he was 27. Now at 32, he not only is looking forward to continuing to do what he loves in getting after the quarterback but spreading his knowledge to the younger pass rushers on Dallas' roster too. Even through one game and some practices, he's identified areas of growth for the defensive ends that have struggled to get home on quarterbacks.
"Just keep going, never give up on rushes, you've got to finish the rush," Clowney said. "Some of them were halfway finishing, so just finish the rush and you'll get to the quarterback."
Clowney's expected first game with the Cowboys will be a unique one, because it's the first game where Micah Parsons comes back to Dallas after being traded to the Green Bay Packers.
Just five years ago, Clowney was in a similar situation in Week 6 of the 2020 NFL season. It was the first time that Clowney played the Houston Texans, the team that drafted him and who he played for five years with, since they traded him to the Seahawks in 2019.
To him, that week was just like any other week.
"I approached it like I approach any other game, it's the next game on the schedule," Clowney said. "You really want to play good in all 17 games, it's not one game you pick out you want to play better than the other ones."
Now, Clowney is hoping that his normal preparation in a game week turns into him making his debut for Dallas on Sunday night.
