Maybe, just maybe, Jadeveon Clowney is finally healthy, and the Houston Texans can have that elite pass rushing duo they dreamed of when they drafted him out of South Carolina with the number one overall pick in 2014.

Clowney played in just four games last season, but it seems he’s done recovering from his knee operation and rehab, which means he should be ready to hit the field not just for the season opener in September, but also for the beginning of training camp. At least that’s Clowney’s personal goal, and the Texans agree and are crossing their fingers.

Clowney, only 22, should have formed a monstrous duo of attacking quarterbacks along with J.J. Watt, the best pass rusher in the NFL today. But an injury and also some off the field issues made the Texans wait for their hopes and dreams to come true. The Texans defense wasn’t bad without him, but Clowney should be the kind of player who forces defense to plan specifically for him. When you have two players like that in the same line, it means a lot of trouble.

But while Clowney and even Brian Cushing’s return give reason for optimism, the Texans are still handicapped because of their offense and more specifically, the quarterback situation. Without Brian Hoyer or Ryan Mallett actually surprising everyone by playing at a level higher than what the Texans had in Ryan Fitzpatrick, all the talent on defense and offense might not be enough to put this team back on the playoff track.