Four games remain in the 2022 season. Three of the four are home games against the Giants, Browns and Cowboys. The one road game is in San Franciso against the 49ers.
As the season finale approaches, two Commanders players in particular might not actually play any in the four games for the Commanders. Much hope was placed in both players, yet there remains a good chance that head coach Ron Rivera may determine to not play either key figure.
Carson Wentz went down in Chicago in Week 6, breaking the ring finger on his passing hand. The Commanders are 5-1-1 since with Tyler Heinicke starting. The Commanders have yet to bring Wentz back to the roster. It is hard to believe that he will see any action, barring of course an injury to Heinicke.
Chase Young is back with the Commanders, sort of. Young had been activated to work and practice with the team. Young was then brought back to the 53-man roster. However, the choice was made that Young would not return to game action against the Falcons, and then repeated again last week that he would not play against the Giants.
Are the Commanders simply waiting until after the bye week, providing Young two more weeks of rehab and recovery workouts before he takes game contact to the knee? If so, that could be a solid strategy.
However, did you hear head coach Ron Rivera talk on Monday of how the defensive personnel is playing well without Chase Young? It is one thing for it to be true. The defense has played well without Young. It is quite another for the head coach not to hesitate to declare such to the local media.
Perhaps the Commanders are hoping not to have to use Young down the stretch and are holding him out unless an injury occurs to another defensive end?
Might the Commanders hold out Young entirely for the 2022 season? Who would have ever thought this preseason that the Commanders coaches at some point this season “might” determine they would play well enough to not need to play Chase Young in 2022?
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