The Houston Texans are hoping outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, who is working his way back from microfracture surgery on his knee, can participate in training camp this August.

After being the first overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Clowney played in just four games with various injuries ranging from suffering a hernia and a concussion, and having surgery on his knee in early December.

“Hopefully he’ll be able to get out on the field sometime during training camp,” head coach Bill O’Brien told the NFL Network on Monday at the owners meetings in Phoenix. “Maybe at the beginning of training camp if he continues to work at the pace that he’s been working.”

Clowney was originally projected to be out until September.

“Our team needs him, and he knows that. He’s working hard to get back out there,” O’Brien said. “He’s in there every day. He’s putting in a lot of time in our training room with our trainers and our doctors.”