Chase Young injury update is fantastic news for Commanders

It’s downright impressive the Washington Commanders were in the playoff conversation as long as they were last season. After a 2-6 start, which included four-straight losses, Ron Rivera’s group rattled off four straight wins after the bye before enduring another four-game skid after injuries and COVID took their toll.

While the Commanders will be thrilled to welcome all of their injured players back into their respective roles, including Curtis Samuel, Logan Thomas, Chase Roullier and Wes Schweitzer, among others, the return of Chase Young could pay the biggest dividends for the team’s overall ceiling in 2022.

If you take a look at some of the NFL’s best teams last season, almost all of them had a standout pass rusher. Between Aaron Donald, TJ Watt, Myles Garrett, Nick Bosa, Micah Parsons and Trey Hendrickson, all of those clubs finished with a winning record and it’s no coincidence each of them made the playoffs.

While Young doesn’t belong in that group just yet, it goes without saying the Commanders need him back on the field as soon as possible. According to Young himself, he’s aiming to be in the lineup for Week 1 of next season!

Commanders star Chase Young is aiming to return for Week 1.

During an interview with Mackenzie Salmon of USA Today, Young expressed confidence in being cleared for Week 1.

"“I definitely grew through this process,” Young said of his long road to recovery. ” It definitely tests your physical and mental (strength). It was definitely a test, but I feel like I’m strong and I feel like I can come back from anything.”“Yeah, I believe so. That’s the plan (being ready for Week 1). You gotta have a plan and that’s the plan. I’m just working hard and you know, with everything, just dealing with it the best way I can.”"

That’s what we like to hear! It sure sounds like Young, who celebrated his 23rd birthday in April, has attacked his rehab with a bulldog mentality. From spending the early stages of his recovery grinding in Colorado, pushing weighted sleds at voluntary OTAs, Young has justified Ron Rivera’s recent praise of him when he said he was “doing exactly what he needs to do” to be ready for 2022.

Young was smart not to promise a Week 1 return. That’s exactly how you answer a teasing question like that. The former Defensive Rookie of the Year could’ve let his emotions takeover and promised fans he’d be suited up for the first game.

Instead, he shared his ambition and didn’t get carried away, which accentuates the idea his maturity improved, as Rivera noted last month that Young experienced an “awakening” following his sluggish sophomore season and ACL injury.

"“Don’t take anything for granted,” Young told Salmon of the biggest lesson he learned from his season-ending injury. “Like the FedEx motto where ‘Now meets Next.’ Stay in the present and just do everything I need to do right now, and the future will plan itself out off that.”"

We don’t want fans to set unrealistic expectations for Young if he’s lined up at defensive end for Game 1. That alone would be an accomplishment, but he might need a few weeks to get back into the groove after major knee surgery.

With that said, fans should be absolutely elated with how well his recovery has gone thus far.