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 for an evaluation on his progress.
Ben Standig of The Athletic was the first to report the news Tuesday and said "a source with direct knowledge of the situation" indicated that evaluation will not occur until later this week. That could mean Young will not return to practice this ahead of Washington hosting the Green Bay Packers Sunday at FedEx Field.
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 no little incentive to rush him back from the serious knee injury if the team is 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 list before he was placed on Injured Reserve to start 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 time.
Follow @BenKrimmel and @Team980 for the latest.
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