Now that Washington Commanders running back Brian Robinson Jr. is back on the field, the next question becomes when will defensive end Chase Young be ready?
Young tore the ACL in his right knee on Nov. 14 in a game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Young has offered updates on his knee, as has head coach Ron Rivera, but there has never been a promise of when Young would return. Remember, Young’s injury was more extensive than the one suffered by tight end Logan Thomas three weeks later.
On Friday, Rivera was asked about Young’s return and said he would need to visit Dr. [James] Andrews one more time before the team could start his [21-day] clock.
“Well, I know he still has to see Dr. Andrews one more time, and once that happens Nicki, then we’ll know for sure when we can start his clock,” Rivera answered.
“I think it’s going to happen early coming up. So I don’t know if this week is doable yet, but if it is doable, what we’ll do is, we’ll start his clock and get him out on the field a lot like what we did with [RB] Brian [Robinson Jr.]. But I won’t know until that appointment, and in fact, we have a three o’clock, and [Head Athletic Trainer] Al [Bellamy] will be in there and he’ll have all the updated injury reports for me.”
Young is on the reserve/PUP [physically unable to perform] list and the team has 21 days to either activate Young once that clock begins or sideline him for the remainder of the season.
When will he visit Dr. Andrews?
“I’m not sure yet,” Rivera said. “That’s one of the things that I should write out from Al.”
It sounds like a positive update from Rivera. If Young visits Andrews next week and receives a good report, that could give him a timeline to return in either Week 9 or Week 10. When Young returns, expect it to be in a situational role with his snaps to gradually increase each week.
Once Robinson’s clock began, he played the following week. Again, two completely different situations, but it gives you a timeline for when Young could be back on the field.
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