Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young will make his 2023 season debut on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. Commanders head coach Ron Rivera confirmed the talented defensive end got cleared by doctors to suit up in Denver.
Young suffered a stinger in Washington’s preseason opener against the Cleveland Browns on the Commanders’ first defensive possession. He did not play another down in the preseason.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Young will play on a snaps count.
“We have to be smart and diligent,” Rivera said about Young’s snap count, per Ben Standig of The Athletic.
Young was cleared by the doctor last Friday but kept out for Week 1. The team and doctor wanted to introduce Young to contact in practice, as he wasn’t allowed for contact since the injury.
On Thursday, Young was upgraded to a full participant in practice for the first time since the Aug. 11 injury. Friday, the team removed him from the injury report.
“I knew my time was going to come again, so I just stayed focused, and now we’re here,” Young said, per JP Finlay of NBC4 Sports.
Chase Young is in a contract year after Washington declined his fifth-year option for the 2024 season. Young won NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 with 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and a touchdown.
However, Young has just 1.5 sacks since, missing 23 games against playing in 12. He tore his ACL and ruptured his patella tendon in his right knee in a Week 10 game during the 2021 season.
