Watch Commanders’ DL celebrate Chase Young’s return in wholesome clip

What a 24 hours it’s been for the Washington Commanders. Between Dan Snyder potentially being on the verge of selling the team, an arrest being made in the Brian Robinson shooting and Chase Young returning to practice, Wednesday was one of the better days this franchise has experienced in a long time.

While fans await word on Snyder’s true intentions — he’s exploring all options, but could sell a minority stake of the team — the Commanders face a true measuring stick game Sunday against the 6-1 Minnesota Vikings.

It’d be great to have Young in the lineup, or even on a pitch count, for that game, but that’s probably wishful thinking at this point. Wednesday marked Young’s first practice since he underwent ACL surgery last November and Washington has preached taking it slow with its former second overall pick.

Still, the excitement surrounding Young’s return is tangible.

Just ask the Commanders’ defensive line, which celebrated Young’s long-awaited return to practice by swarming him in an awesome clip.

The Commanders’ DL celebrated Chase Young’s return to practice.

Snyder news aside, how can you not smile watching this clip? Everyone knows how hard Young worked to get to this point. His teammates obviously recognize that. You have to think the defensive line celebrating his return meant the world to him and it looked like it was Young who broke down the huddle.

The importance of the defense rebounding from its dreadful start cannot be understated. The last thing the Commanders needed was Young to feel like a savior upon returning. While he’ll obviously be expected to provide a spark — a big one at that — fans shouldn’t expect the pass rusher to hit the ground running in in his first game back.

Not only did Young tear his ACL, but he also needed a graft from the tendon in his left knee to repair his right knee, per ESPN’s John Keim. That only added to his recovery timeline, and ACL reconstruction surgery is typically 8-10 months to begin with.

Young wore a brace on his right knee at practice, but wasn’t slowed by the surgically repaired knee, which looked pretty good. Check out the 23-year-old absolutely bulldoze through this defensive line drill.

Those blocking sleds stood no chance.

The Commanders practice without pads and helmets on Wednesday, so it’ll be interesting to see if Young wears the brace on Thursday, or even in his first game back.

Whatever the case, it’s awesome to have No. 99 back. Over the last six weeks, Washington’s defense ranks fifth in yards and third-down conversion rate and eighth in points allowed. And they’ve done it without arguably their most talented player.

At maximum, they’ll play just more game without him.