Cushing likely to play Sunday, Clowney probably won’t due to illness
Thumbs up for Brian Cushing but thumbs down for Jadeveon Clowney? That’s what coach Bill O’Brien seemed to be saying Friday when he discussed his two linebackers’ prospects of playing against Philadelphia. Although a final decision won’t be made until Sunday morning, Cushing seems more likely to be active than the rookie Clowney, who apparently has a bad case of the flu.
“I wouldn’t say it looks very good,” O’Brien conceded when questioned about the top NFL draft pick’s chances of recovering sufficiently from an undisclosed illness by kickoff. “We’ll see how he is tomorrow, but that’s how I feel today.”
At least it’s not Clowney’s surgically repaired knee that’s potentially holding him back. He got in for more than 30 plays against Tennessee in Nashville last weekend after missing six games because of a meniscus tear suffered in the season-opener that required an arthroscopic procedure.
Cushing, however, practiced Friday for the first time since before the Monday-night game in Pittsburgh and said his left knee was feeling much better. He sat out against the Titans after experiencing pain and weakness – he’s undergone major season-ending operations on the joint in each of the last two seasons – and there has been speculation that he wouldn’t return until the Texans’ next game, Nov. 16 in Cleveland.
O’Brien said Cushing was “moving around pretty good out there” and Cushing said he “felt really good,” adding: “Obviously, I want to play and I hope to play, and the coaches want me to play. That’s the plan. But there’s a lot of things that come into account and we have to make the best decision for everyone.
“I love playing. I want to be out there. But at the same time I want to play at my best level and have a good rest of the year. We’ve got to figure out a formula for that to happen.”
The Texans will definitely be without the services of another inside linebacker, Jeff Tarpinian, for the second game in a row. He also has a knee issue and was officially listed as “out” on Friday’s injury report. Both Cushing and Clowney were questionable, as was cornerback Darryl Morris.
Asked if Clowney’s issues are “frustrating,” O’Brien replied: “Nope, not one bit. It’s the National Football League, you know what I mean? Injuries occur. Next guy steps up and plays. That’s part of the job in the NFL. (That’s why) you have a 53-man roster and you try to build depth at every position.”
(Raiders, Titans, Jags, ********, Jets, and whoever else). Basically the "best worst team", which does scream 7-9. Oh well, **** it, let's go 10-6 
