Commanders fans again holding breath for injury update on star DL

The waiting game surrounding the 24-year-old's health has become an all-too-familiar event for NFL fans in the nation's capital during Young's brief professional career.

The former No. 2 overall pick missed just one game with an injury during his rookie campaign in 2020, a season that saw him finish with what are still career bests in quarterback hits (12), tackles for loss (10), sacks (7.5), forced fumbles (four), passes defended (four) and fumble recoveries (three) among other categories. Young deservedly made the Pro Bowl and unsurprisingly earned the Defensive Player of the Year award.

After posting four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks through nine games in 2021, the Ohio State product suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The ailment lingered and he was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp last summer and wasn't activated off of injured reserve until November. Young didn't return to the field until Week 16 in late December though and suited up for just three games, recording three solo tackles and no sacks on 115 defensive snaps.

The Commanders are stuck waiting to hear more about Young's injury for now, but it's a positive sign that Ben Standig of The Athletic reported Thursday that the defensive end is "progressing nicely." Per Standig, Young hasn't participated in a full practice since the Aug. 11 preseason game against the Cleveland Browns.

Furthermore, Standig reported that it's notable that the team has made "multiple transactions with its defensive line this week, placing two players on injured reserve while Young remains on the active roster."

Washington will start giving official updates on Young's status when they release their first injury report of the season on Wednesday.