Linebacker Jadeveon Clowney of the Houston Texans, who underwent a second knee surgery on Dec. 8, was walking without a limp at a promotional event on Saturday and said he his progressing in his rehab.

Clowney, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2014 NFL draft out of South Carolina, sustained a torn lateral meniscus and articular cartilage damage in the Texans’ opener and had arthroscopic knee surgery the next day.

“Very encouraged,” Clowney said. “Everything is looking good right now for me. I’m feeling better than I was previously. Just hoping to stay on this track and work towards getting back.

” … Rehab is (a lot) tougher than playing. You gotta be in there earlier than everybody, you’ve gotta leave later than everybody. That’s a lot tougher than playing.”

Clowney said he had to stay off his feet for six or seven weeks after the surgery, but now is doing several hours of rehab every day.