The 2023 NFL season is going to be a big one for the career of Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young.
The 2020 NFL rookie defensive player of the year recorded 7.5 sacks and helped lead Washington to the playoffs, albeit with a 7-9 record.
However, Young’s second season was a disappointment. He recorded just 1.5 sacks in nine games before injuring his knee. Young’s knee injury was more severe than only a torn ACL. In addition to the torn ACL, Young’s patellar tendon was also damaged.
Therefore, all of Young’s offseason was spent rehabbing, and much of the 2022 season was about when he would return. He finally did return on Christmas Eve against the 49ers and played well over the final three games. Sure, he didn’t record a sack, but Young looked fast, was active and appeared to play with no hesitation. Those were massive hurdles to overcome after such a significant injury.
The most significant news on Young this offseason was head coach Ron Rivera admitting the team was undecided about Young’s fifth-year option. Washington has until May 1 to exercise the fifth-year option on his rookie contract, meaning he’d be under contract for two more seasons.
Rivera mentioned using it as a motivating factor for Young.
The option is for over $17 million in 2024, and it becomes fully guaranteed once exercised. So, the Commanders want to be certain that Young is completely healthy.
On Monday, Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post offered a positive health update on Young, who visited Dr. James Andrews.
Commanders DE Chase Young saw Dr. James Andrews in recent weeks for a checkup and got very positive feedback about his recovery from knee surgery, per source. A good (and necessary) step as the Commanders decide on his fifth-year contract option.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) February 27, 2023
Washington still has two months to decide whether to pick up Young’s fifth-year option, but his latest health update was a positive step in that direction.