Chase Young's return to action may still be a few weeks away, or it could be much sooner, depending on the results of an examination this week.
Young, who sustained a torn ACL in his right knee and damaged his patella tendon during the then-Washington Football Team's 29-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Nov. 14 last year, is set to see orthopedic surgeon Dr. James Andrews this week to get an evaluation on his progress.
Ben Standig of The Athletic was first to report the news Tuesday, saying, "A source with direct knowledge of the situation" indicated the evaluation will not occur until later this week. That could mean Young will not return to practice ahead of Washington hosting Green Bay at FedEx Field on Sunday.
If Young is not cleared for practice by Wednesday, Standig notes, the chances of him playing Sunday drop significantly.
The Commanders could also exercise caution by giving him more than one week of practice before returning to the lineup.
Young's return to action may be delayed further if Washington's on-field fortunes do not improve, as the team would have little incentive to rush him back from a serious knee injury with the team already well out of contention. Washington could decide to sit the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year for much longer and focus on a return to full health for the entire offseason ahead of the 2023 season.
Young began training camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list before he was placed on Injured Reserve at the start of the regular season. Once it is determined he is able to return to practice, the team will start a 21-day period for him to begin practicing, during which they can elevate him to the 53-man roster at any point.
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