ASHBURN — Washington Commanders coach Ron Rivera said Wednesday he still doesn’t know if Chase Young will make his season debut Sunday, but if the defensive end plays against the Houston Texans, he’ll be on a pitch count.
Young is still working his way back from the torn ACL he suffered slightly more than a year ago. The Commanders designated the 23-year-old to return to practice on Nov. 2, though the team has 21 days to activate Young to the roster from the Physically Unable to Perform list. Young’s recovery has differed from the traditional ACL tear as he had reconstruction surgery, which takes longer to rehab.
ESPN reported Tuesday the Commanders do plan on activating Young so he can play this weekend, though Rivera didn’t confirm that — telling reporters he has to see how Young responds in practice.
Rivera said Young’s snaps would be limited even if the pass rusher is available.
“The big part of it is, especially right now, is wanting to get as close as you can to live action, and you really can’t,” Rivera said. “So we have to try and figure out how he can get as many as good reps in the next couple of days to get a good gauge as to where he is.”
The 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year is coming off a down season in which he recorded only 1 1/2 sacks last year. But Texans coach Love Smith told Washington reporters that he’s expecting Young to play this weekend — and be a factor.
“He’s one of the best players in our game,” Smith said of Young. “That’s what we expect.”
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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