Tag: Chase Young Back at Practice

Commanders DE Chase Young received two different evaluations this week

Is Chase Young going to be ready for Monday night? We examine what both Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio said about Young on Friday.

Chase Young, the Commanders third-year defensive end is nearing the time he will be activated, returning to the playing field.

On November 14, 2021, against the Tampa Bay Bucs, Young injured his right knee. The knee required an ACL reconstruction, more serious than a repaired ACL. A graft from his left patellar tendon was performed to reconstruct the ACL in his right knee.

Perhaps Young is now ready to be activated for the Eagles’ Week 10 or the Texans in Week 11?

On Thursday, head coach Ron Rivera when asked about Young’s practice and health replied, “He looked good. We put him in pass-rush situations to watch him and get a chance to watch him on tape a little bit more. He looked good. It’s good to see him moving around, moving as quick as he is. We’ll see how he is tomorrow morning. It will always be about the next day, how much they work them, the next morning if he is sore or not, will help dictate whether or not we will activate him or not.”

On Friday, when asked about Young’s practicing and soon return, defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio responded rather differently. “Well, his energy’s always great. Love having him, so to see him back on the field; He’s able to do some things. I wouldn’t call him full speed at this point in everything he’s doing, but he’s working at it. He’s giving it everything he has, and when he is right, we’re going to play him. But until he is right, we’re not going to play him.”

I don’t know what to make of the difference between the two responses. Yet, isn’t the different reaction in the two NFL veteran linebackers and coaches worth noting?

Perhaps a logical explanation might be that Rivera was commenting on how Young practiced Thursday. Did the extra work cause some fatigue for Young? Therefore, might Young have been a step or two slower on Friday? Is this perhaps to what Del Rio was responding?

We will continue to monitor Young’s progress and hope for his return soon.

Commanders Del Rio: ‘We’re going to go in and compete’

Jack Del Rio understands the challenge ahead on Monday, but he embraces it and says Washington’s defense is ready.

In their first meeting this season, the Commanders lost to the Eagles 24-8. Defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio candidly offered to the press Friday, “Yeah, the scary part is we actually played pretty good. They’ve got a really good team. They’re rolling. They’re red hot.”

But Del Rio was quick to add, “We’re going to go in and compete. We got ourselves ready, got to meet a great challenge. We’ll show up and compete.”

“It’s a big task. They’ve got a great big offensive line. I think they’re very well-coached. They’ve got excellent backs, and then the quarterback’s a runner as well. So it’s a tough ground game to slow down.”

Eagles fans are loud and boisterous. In addition, it will be a MNF atmosphere.

“I love it. Love it. It’s a great atmosphere. I mean, It should be a very exciting game for us to be a part of on Monday night.”

“We’ve got to be able to slow down a very explosive offense. Their receivers are gifted, and the quarterback’s red hot. They’ve got the best offensive line going in the league. They’ve got capable backs, and the tight end is a really good player.”

Del Rio would love to get some turnovers on the Eagles. “It’s the most important stat in football, and there’s no secret that they’re on top of the league right now in that category and that directly leads to them being undefeated at this time.”

“I think all year I’ve been pleased with the effort, the energy, the commitment, the way we’re attacking things. You’re going to improve when you work at it like that. And we’re close to the halfway point, I guess and I like some things, there’s some things that we would need to do better, and we’re working at it, but I love, I absolutely love the commitment, the effort, the energy the guys put forth in terms of trying to understand the game plan which changes from time to time and for different opponents.”

Del Rio likes how his guys have really bought in this year.

“I’m glad to have the buy-in; it’s important. I think that’s the only way to get better and to attack things straightforward. Brutally honest but create an atmosphere that is fun to be around, and that’s what we look to do.”

Chase Young continues to work out and progress toward being reactivated.

“Well, his energy’s always great. He’s giving it everything he has, and when he is right, we’re going to play him, but until he is right, we’re not going to play him.”

Del Rio is quick to point out that his defensive line is leading the way.

(Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne) “they’re talented guys. They work hard, and have a great work ethic. I think they both love the game, love football. I think it helps to have players that love football and those two guys love it.”

“We talked about [Defensive Line Coach Jeff Zgonina] Z last week. I think he’s done a good job working with those guys (defensive line)”.

Where is Commanders’ Chase Young in his rehabilitation?

A good overview of Chase Young’s rehab. Young returns to practice this week.

Dr. Wesley Wang a physical therapist in Rockville, MD., and joined Craig Hoffman of The Team 980 to discuss the surgery and rehab of Commanders DE Chase Young.

Young, who tore the ACL in his right knee on Nov. 14, 2021, also required a Patellar tendon graft from his left knee to repair the torn ACL. Thus, Young required some rehab on both knees. Young returns to practice Wednesday.

Wang works with many D1 athletes in rehab from major sports injuries. Here are a few excerpts from Wang.

“He (Young) is in a sense dealing with two surgeries. One is considered the healthy knee, but was then weakened because they took a third of his Patellar tendon.”

“So throughout the recovery process, you have to be maintaining and managing his load to his non-affected side because you are not trying to aggravate that side.”

“I am going to guess that they put him on a snap count. He might play somewhere along the way of 10 to 15 snaps at first. It seems like they have been really conservative the entire way through (the process). They will manage his volume.”

“My best guess is maybe by Week 13 or 14 he will probably be on a full go. Or they could continue to go the full conservative route snap count the rest of the season. Even as a Commanders fan, I guess they know we are not going to win the Super Bowl this year. They are trying to keep their franchise player as healthy for years and years down the line.”

“Even my high school kids who are playing for scholarships, they are trying to get into D1 schools. In their mind, they think, ‘I have to go back at 100 percent right away.’ But every one of my kids I keep them on a count and increase them by 15-20 percent. That is how I gradually expose them back again.”

“Too many times you see them thrown back out there to a full practice, a full contact go. Four or five times in, something happens to the other ACL. That means you were never adequately prepared. So, with a player of Chase’s caliber, they are going to be really conservative.”

“This man has to bend and twist. He is getting pushed every single play. It’s not like he can avoid contact on any play. He is playing one of the most physical positions in the most physical sport.”

“No matter what, you can never replicate game speed and game intensity in a rehab setting or in practice. It’s borderline impossible.”

“If I were working with someone like Chase I would have gradually built up the speed and progression of him pushing. Asking him, ‘What moves are you hesitant about?’ Whatever it may be, we are going to work on that in the rehab setting, over and over again.”

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