Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young was back at practice Wednesday for the first time since tearing his ACL in Week 10 of the 2021 season.
“I felt real good, I felt pretty springy,” Young said. “Obviously we didn’t have pads on or anything like that, but just getting back in motion … just feeling like a football player again, it felt good.”
Here’s what you need to know:
- Young was the No. 2 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft and earned 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year honors.
- He suffered a right ACL tear in Washington’s Week 10 win over Tampa Bay last season. The surgery to repair the injury was not straightforward as it required surgeons to graft part of his healthy left patella tendon to help repair the injured knee.
- Wednesday’s move opens Young’s 21-day practice window. Earlier this week Commanders coach Ron Rivera said Young would participate in individual drills on Wednesday and continue individual work on a side field when team drills start.
- Young declined to say whether or not he’d play in Sunday’s game against the Vikings.
How Young looked in practice
Pre-practice stretching is important, though often a perfunctory exercise that players participate in thousands of times. That was the case for nearly all of the Washington Commanders, with one notable exception.
Young combined calisthenics and dance moves as the practice soundtrack poured out of the speakers. The third-year player was giddy to show off his
“Griddy” skills. Smooth as they are, that wasn’t why Young’s smile became fixated on his face or why fellow defensive end Montez Sweat felt a “boost.”
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“He’s a big juice guy, a leader for us,” Sweat said of pass-rushing tag-team partner. “Always good to have somebody like that back.” — Standig
When Young could return for Commanders
The Commanders need Young back on the field, but they don’t need him rushing his return. Defensive tackles Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne warrant Pro Bowl consideration based on their interior prowess. Sweat is stacking one impressive showing on top of another, while the combination of James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill, and Efe Obada have provided steady work in Young’s absence.
Regardless, adding an explosive pass rusher of Young’s natural ability is the type of talent that could push Washington’s defense up a level heading into a crucial portion of the season. That won’t happen Sunday against the 6-1 Vikiings – “That’s probably jumping the gun,” head coach Ron Rivera said – but soon.
There’s the physical aspect of his recovery and the mental component of trusting his surgically-repaired knee. Young said he gained comfort tangling with tight end Logan Thomas during a practice drill.
“Chase looked good,” Rivera said. “He’s anxious.”
As for refining his technique, that’s a work in progress as the physical therapy trumped working on his swim technique, but it’s all coming together. — Standig
Required Reading
(Photo: Brad Mills / USA Today)
