HOUSTON — Controversial outside linebacker Jadeveon Clowney, selected first overall in this year’s draft by the Houston Texans, made his second start of the season Sunday against the Cincinnati Bengals.

It was his third game and first start since he sustained a knee injury in the opener and underwent surgery.

Against the Bengals, Clowney had three tackles, including one for a loss. Clowney, who lacked quickness and explosiveness, played hard but wasn’t a factor in the passing game.

Asked if he is playing at the level he wants to, Clowney said, “Somewhat. Some things are holding me back still, but I’m just out here trying to do what I can do and have fun.”

A reporter asked Clowney if he believes he is making an impact during games.

“Sometimes,” he said. “I can only do my job, which is set the edge and get after the quarterback. Sometimes you get that, and sometimes you don’t.”

Six months after draft day, Clowney is still figuring out what he can do on the field and adjusting to new limitations.

A defensive end at South Carolina, Clowney had an inconsistent final college season, but, at 6-foot-6, 245 pounds with remarkable athleticism, it was difficult to deny his potential.

Now the question is, will he reach that potential in the NFL?

As the Texans struggle to find a long-term answer at quarterback, curiosity continues over whether they might have benefitted by taking one of the top-rated quarterbacks with the first pick instead of Clowney.

Among their choices were Blake Bortles (Central Florida, No. 3 overall to the Jacksonville Jaguars), Johnny Manziel (Texas A&M, 22nd overall to the Cleveland Browns), Teddy Bridgewater (Louisville, 32nd overall to the Minnesota Vikings), Derek Carr (Fresno, second round, No. 36 overall to the Oakland Raiders) or Jimmy Garoppolo (Eastern Illinois, second round, No. 62 overall to the New England Patriots).

Instead, the Texans took Clowney No. 1 and tried to fill their quarterback need by taking Pittsburgh’s Tom Savage in the fourth round, citing his physical ability and potential. Kind of the same reasoning they used on Clowney.

The Texans traded a 2015 draft pick to the Patriots for Ryan Mallett, a former third-round pick, and began the season with Ryan Fitzpatrick as the starting quarterback. Mallett moved in as a starter this month, but he tore a pectoral muscle Sunday and is out for the rest of the year. The Texans are reverting to Fitzpatrick as the starter.

Note that Savage is not getting the call as the team believes it is in the playoff hunt and wants more experience at the helm. As the Texans watch Clowney struggle, fans, at least, wonder what might have been if the team used that No. 1 pick for a top quarterback prospect.

Meanwhile, Clowney admits the move to the NFL hasn’t been easy.

He was inconsistent over the past few weeks while coming back from the surgery. Clowney had soreness in his knee and missed practices earlier this month, but he also had some good moments coming off the bench against the Cleveland Browns on Nov. 16.

“You never know if you’re going to have an injury or not coming into the league. So when that happened to me, it was a setback,” he said. “I’m just trying to do everything I need to do to get back to where I need to be to help the team out.”