What a difference a week makes.
Last week at this time, it seemed like 40% of the Commanders fan base was furious and fed up with Chase Young again not playing. Then there was the 40% who were taking it out on head coach Ron Rivera, citing he wanted Young to fail and was thus keeping Young out of the lineup.
Buy Commanders TicketsThen there were the 20% who could see both of those extreme positions were frankly foolish and that Young would be playing as soon as the doctors said he was ready for contact.
Young said Friday he wanted to play in the opener, but he kept doing everything he needed to do to prepare and be ready when he was given the green light.
Commanders fans are quite aware of Young being the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year. They are also aware Young was the major disappointment of the 2021 Washington season. And that was prior to his bad ACL injury against Tampa Bay.
But this is 2023. Young was not offered the 5th year option in the spring. But since training camp, there have been very positive comments concerning Young’s approach to this season. Rivera said Young was “light years ahead of last year.” Montez Sweat said, “Chase looks real good. He’s starting to be more of a pro.”
Young confirmed that during this preseason, he has worked hard. “Definitely. I haven’t stopped working. Every day I still was trying to perfect my craft and just keep my head down.”
Here is video of Chase Young at practice today.
Will he play on Sunday? We don't know yet. pic.twitter.com/4prQftqeDR
— Scott Abraham (@Scott7news) September 13, 2023
Young feels he is past the knee problem entirely. “My knee? It’s not [an issue]. I’m all good.”
The neck injury in the first preseason game set him back from playing, but Young insists, not mentally. “I just knew my time was gonna come again. So, I just stayed focused and stayed consistent on what I had to do. And now we are here.”
