Logan Thomas setting high expectations for return from ACL surgery

The Washington Commanders will need all hands on deck in 2020 if they want to return to the playoffs. The factors working in their favor?

Their division has no clearcut favorite, the NFC got significantly weaker this offseason, they play one of the easiest schedules and their injury luck can only improve. That last one isn’t set in stone, obviously, but sheer odds would suggest Washington’s roster will be much more healthy than it was last year.

Between Chase Young, Curtis Samuel, Montez Sweat, Brandon Scherff, Landon Collins, Logan Thomas, William Jackson, and yes, Ryan Fitzpatrick, the Commanders were without some of their most important players for long stretches in 2021.

Two of those players — Young and Thomas — are recovering from torn ACLs, and it’s currently unclear whether they’ll be ready for Week 1. Young likely has the better chance given he underwent surgery a few weeks before his teammate, but Thomas’ latest comments suggest otherwise.

During a Wednesday appearance on “The Sports Junkies” of 106.7 The Fan, Thomas said he isn’t ruling out a potential Week 1 return.

Commanders tight end Logan Thomas is ahead of schedule in his recovery from December ACL surgery.

Here’s what Thomas said of his recovery.

"You know, I’m feeling really good right now, but a little more ahead of schedule than I expected to be and I think where I’m supposed to be, so that’s good news as well. …It obviously takes a little bit of time to get back into the swing of things, to build up your strength and stuff and get going.So, we never put a projection on it. It’s supposed to be a 10-month recovery from the time I had surgery, which would have put it somewhere around Week 4, something like that. But the way I feel and the type of person I am, the type of competitor I am, yeah, I’m shooting for Week 1."

That’s really reassuring to hear from Thomas, who tore his ACL and MCL against the Raiders in Week 13. With the Commanders extremely thin at tight end behind the sure-handed veteran, they’ll need him back as soon as possible.

Of course, that isn’t to say Thomas should return before he’s ready. The offense needs him for the long haul. If that means sitting out the first couple games to make sure that knee is 100%, then so be it. His health comes first and foremost.

So where is Thomas at in his recovery? We know Chase Young is already squatting 225 pounds and pushing sleds at OTAs, so Thomas shouldn’t be far behind, right? Not exactly. He’s got a little ways to go before clearing those hurdles.

"I’m at the jogging stage. I’m actually about to hop in the [anti-gravity treadmill] AlterG here in a little while, start moving around a little bit. And it’s not because of not being able to do so, it’s just because of, you know, taking your time. There’s no need to rush it at this point."

That’s the way to do it. With surgery and medicine as advanced as they are, ACL tears aren’t catastrophic injuries anymore. Though they’re the most common “serious” injury, the recoveries have accelerated by leaps and bounds over the years.

Thomas later revealed he tore both of his meniscus’ (lateral and medial), so that could further explain why he’s taking a step-by-step approach. A Week 1 return might be wishful thinking, but we’re not putting anything past him.