These Commanders are likely to open training camp on the PUP list

The Washington Commanders reported to training camp on Tuesday. While the roster is largely at full-strength in terms of health, there are several players, Chase Young chief among them, who are still recovering from serious injuries.

As we all remember, Young suffered what was ultimately diagnosed as a torn ACL in Washington’s first game out of the bye last season. It was a non-contact injury and Young underwent surgery almost immediately once the swelling went down and spent most of the offseason rehabbing with specialists in Colorado.

As a former No. 2 overall pick, Defensive Rookie of the Year and one of the most promising young edge rushers in the game, the Commanders have every reason to slow-play Young’s return to the gridiron.

It’s long been expected he’ll start camp on the PUP list. Stay tuned to see if Washington confirms those suspicions later today.

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Chase Young will likely start training camp on the PUP list. What other Commanders players will join him?

It’s unclear if Young will be ready for the start of the regular season, but it’s important to take things one step at a time with the 23-year-old. No sense rushing back one of the team’s most important players and risking a setback.

While Young will hate watching camp from the sidelines, he won’t be alone in that regard, as Logan Thomas, who also suffered a torn ACL, albeit multiple weeks later than Young, is another candidate for the PUP list. However, JP Finlay of NBC Sports Washington understands the veteran tight end is ahead of schedule in his recovery and could be activated sooner rather than later.

Elsewhere, interior offensive lineman Chase Roullier and Tyler Larsen are both recovering from serious lower-leg injuries.

Roullier, the Commanders starting center for the last five seasons, suffered a fractured fibula on Halloween and there’s no timetable for his return. With (another) new quarterback in Carson Wentz, Washington really needs Roullier back on the field, but like Young, there’s no sense rushing him back either.

The same can be said for Larsen, who suffered a torn Achilles.

The term Achilles really sends shivers down your spine, as it’s one of the most serious injuries an athlete can endure. Washington luckily has Wes Schweitzer to fill the void at center, but Larsen played important snaps last season before the injury and earned a 72.7 pass-blocking grade from Pro Football Focus.

Barring any surprises, that should just about do it. Curtis Samuel was limited during spring practices, but that boiled down to precaution and load management after the receiver’s injury-plagued 2021 campaign.

The expectation is Samuel will be on the active roster to start camp. Hopefully, the dynamic playmaker can avoid being sent to the “side field” this time around after he spent most of last year’s training camp there.