Following through with their recently stated intention, the Commanders have opened Chase Young‘s return window from the reserve/PUP list. The third-year defensive end is back at practice for the first time since tearing his right ACL nearly a year ago.
The former No. 2 overall pick has been on the shelf since suffering the injury Nov. 14, 2021. While this is on the long end for an ACL recovery, Young’s injury was believed to be a bit more serious. The Commanders have three weeks to activate him; not being activated by Nov. 23 would lead to Young missing a full season.
A report just before the season indicated moved Young’s recovery timetable to the midseason point. While Young has been eligible to come off Washington’s PUP list since Week 5, the former Defensive Rookie of the Year underwent reconstructive surgery that required a graft from his left patellar tendon. That contributed to this extended timeline. It is possible Young goes a full year without playing, but the Commanders taking a conservative route here has always added up. Young, 23, remains a candidate to sign a monster extension that keeps him in Washington well beyond his rookie deal.
How Young fares in his return will help determine his price range. After a 7.5-sack rookie season included four forced fumbles — one of which going back for a late-season touchdown — the coveted prospect only produced 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits in 2021. It will be interesting to see how quickly Young can re-emerge as an impact player following this rehab odyssey.
The Commanders were linked to potential seller trades not long ago, but they have since won three straight to move to 4-4 and back into the playoff picture. Five Washington pass rushers — Daron Payne, Jonathan Allen, Jamin Davis, Montez Sweat and Efe Obada — have tallied at least three sacks, with Payne’s 4.5 leading the way in his contract year. Young’s replacement, former seventh-round pick James Smith-Williams, has two sacks and 11 QB hits. Young’s return will help restore one of the league’s deepest defensive lines in recent memory.
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