Washington Commanders head coach Ron Rivera confirmed that defensive end Chase Young would make his season debut on Saturday against the San Francisco 49ers.
When asked if Young would play Sunday, Rivera had the following to say:
“Yes,” he answered.
Rivera did go into more detail about Young, mentioning how he had another checkup with Dr. James Andrews Sunday and that Young had a good week of practice.
“A lot of positive things,” Rivera said. “It’s now; I mean, he felt really good this week. I think, again, seeing Dr. Andrews probably was the last final thing that, just to get him over the hump. He practiced with confidence. He showed us he was willing to stick that leg in the ground and roll off of it, plant it and cut off of it. So, he had a good week, so we’re pretty excited about that.”
Rivera had mentioned weeks ago he wanted Young to be able to stick his leg in the ground and plant it, which is critical for a pass rusher. Rivera was optimistic throughout the process, while defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio maintained a more cautious approach when speaking to the media.
Washington’s defensive line is having an outstanding season. Defensive tackle Jonathan Allen will start in the Pro Bowl, while defensive tackle Daron Payne and defensive end Montez Sweat were named Pro Bowl alternates.
There is no pressure on Young to play significant snaps for the remainder of this season. At this point, it’s all about Young feeling comfortable in game action again and trusting his knee.
Young posted the following to his Instagram Thursday after it was revealed he’d play Saturday.
Chase Young said yesterday that he would "eventually" reveal the extent of his injury and recovery.
Today, after it was announced he'll play against the 49ers, he posted this on IG pic.twitter.com/NOaYC8Y2Qt
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) December 22, 2022
The Commanders play the 49ers on Christmas Eve in a game critical for their playoff hopes.
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