Jadeveon Clowney on signing with Cowboys: 'I got a lot left in the tank'

Two weeks into the season, the Dallas Cowboys have a reinforcement on the way. Jadeveon Clowney signed with the team on Monday, making it his 12th NFL season. Many wonder how much longer the former No. 1 overall pick can play. But Clowney is quite confident in himself.

“I got seven primetime games to prove and show the world,” Clowney said via The Athletic‘s Jon Machota. “That was my whole thought on coming down here. I get to play primetime and put myself out there again. Sky is the limit again for me. I don’t feel like I’m getting old. Terence Crawford just beat somebody at (37) years old. I got a lot left in the tank.”

Clowney is not quite 37 years old like Crawford, who beat Canelo Álvarez in a boxing match on Saturday night. He turned 32 back in February, on Valentine’s Day, but still draws inspiration. Getting another five years would be quite the accomplishment.

However, this is just a one-year contract with the Cowboys. Maybe something can be worked out after the year is over. But Dallas felt the need to add another EDGE presence to the lineup and the move wound up working for both parties.

As for when Clowney might be available to suit up for the Cowboys, do not look too far down the road. The goal is to play on Sunday afternoon in the Week 3 matchup against the Chicago Bears. Most might need some time to get settled in and learn a new system.

Past experience gives Clowney confidence in his ability to play right away, though. When speaking to the media, Clowney pointed to the 2020 season when he signed with the Tennessee Titans.

“I walked into Tennessee game one and played like 40 snaps the first game and we played at Mile High,” Clowney said via DallasCowboys.com’s Tommy Yarrish. “It’s nothing new to me, it’s football.”

Clowney spent last season in Carolina with the Panthers, playing in 14 games. He recorded 46 tackles, nine tackles for a loss, and 5.5 sacks. Similar numbers were put up the year prior with Baltimore but the sack total was four higher at 9.5.

The Cowboys certainly could use a near double-digit sack producer after trading away Micah Parsons. Opportunity No. 1 to get after the quarterback comes on Sunday, hoping to chase down second-year player Caleb Williams along with his teammates.