Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young may be entering another season with uncertainty. Young has still not gotten cleared for contact after suffering a stinger in Washington’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns. He expects to meet with a doctor this week, per The Athletic’s Ben Standig.
Young has practiced without contact since the injury. Last week, Commanders head coach Ron Rivera revealed Young was meeting a doctor before the preseason finale against the Cincinnati Bengals.
Rivera has been mum on updates of Young, choosing not to answer questions after Washington’s win over Cincinnati and after the 53-man roster got announced.
On Thursday, Rivera did speak on the matter but refused to give an actual injury update.
“I can tell you is [Chase Young] is practicing and doing everything we need him to do right now as he’s getting ready for the opener,” Rivera said, per Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post. “I have no idea what the doctor’s going to do, but I do know right now that he’s told him he can continue to progress and get himself ready to go.”
Chase Young not being placed on IR is encouraging
The good thing is Washington hasn’t placed Chase Young on short-term IR. The team put a couple of defensive linemen, including last year’s second-round draft pick, defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis, on IR this week.
That’s key to the situation. Being placed on short-term IR means a player must miss four games before returning. The doctor has allowed Young to prepare for Week 1 as the Commanders host the Arizona Cardinals, per Rivera.
The team could be waiting to see if the doctor clears Young. However, even if he is not, the team has proceeded in a manner that indicates the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year will play in a game before Week 4.
For the second straight year, Young faces uncertainty entering a season. Last year, Young was recovering from a torn ACL and a ruptured patella tendon in his right knee. The Commanders placed him on the PUP list to start the season.
Young missed 14 games before he returned in 2022. The Commanders expressed their concerns over the injury by declining his fifth-year option for the 2024 season.
With free agency looming for him next year, the 2023 season will be Young’s biggest of his professional career. He has to play well to earn the long-term deal he wants.
By all accounts, Washington has been pleased with Young’s progress with the knee injury through training camp. Unfortunately, now he must tackle another challenge. Young may very well play against the Cardinals. But there is a chance he may not.
His availability hinges on the doctor’s visit.
“Until then, there’s nothing we can tell you, nothing we can say,” Rivera added. “We’ll have the medical report come out on Wednesday.”
