ASHBURN, Va. — Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young will make his season debut Sunday against the Denver Broncos, coach Ron Rivera said Friday.
Young had been sidelined with a stinger injury since August, when he got hurt just four snaps into a preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. But Young was cleared for contact last week and was a full participant for the last two days of practice, putting him on track to play in Denver.
Rivera said Young will be on a snap count when he returns, but coaches will monitor how he does throughout the game. The coach declined to say what that figure would be.
“Very positive,” Rivera said. “[He] did a lot of good things throughout the week. There’s a lot of confidence and we have to be smart because this is his first introduction to full contact, full-speed contact other than what he had in practice this week. But he had a very good week and the young man has worked his tail off.”
Young said he’s ready to go and be the “best Chase Young I can be.” The pass rusher appeared in only three games last season as he missed most of the year while recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered in November 2021. Young tore his ACL and tore his patellar tendon.
Young said his knee is no longer an issue. Before he suffered the stinger injury, coaches and teammates were encouraged by what they saw from Young in practice — often saying that the pass rusher’s explosiveness had returned.
Now, he’ll get a chance to prove it in Denver. This is a big season for Young after the Commanders declined his fifth-year option — meaning he’ll be a free agent following the year, barring being hit with the franchise tag or an extension. The fifth-year option would have guaranteed Young nearly $17.5 million in 2024.
• Matthew Paras can be reached at mparas@washingtontimes.com.
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