The Commanders have been without Chase Young for exactly one calendar year, and his return will not take place tonight. Washington is not activating the edge rusher from the PUP list ahead of their game against the Eagles, reports NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). 
The Commanders opened Young’s three-week return window at the beginning of the month, as he returned to practice. That fell in line with their stated plan for the 2020 second overall pick, but the team remained cautious with his midweek workload. As a result, he was not activated ahead of last week’s contest.
That pointed to a return for tonight’s primetime matchup, but the Ohio State product will remain sidelined for at least one more week as he continues to recover from an ACL tear. That injury ended his sophomore campaign, one which included just 1.5 sacks through nine game – a notable drop from the 7.5 he posted the year prior en route to winning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. A midseason return has been expected since August.
More worrying still, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reports (via Twitter) that it is “not considered a slam dunk” Young will be activated by next week. If the Nov. 23 deadline passes without the team doing so, Young will not be eligible to return for the remainder of the season. That would mark a major blow to the team’s pass rush, of course, though they have managed to rank mid-pack so far with 23 sacks this season.
For Young individually, a full missed season would likely have financial ramifications. This coming offseason marks the first point at which he is eligible for an extension, one which appeared to be on track for one of the league’s richest after his first season in the league. Since then, however, the drop in production and significant time missed due to injury could be cause for hesitation on the team’s part to make a long-term commitment before he re-takes the field.
For at least one more week, Montez Sweat will be paired with James Smith-Williams on the edge as Washington looks to upset Philadelphia. Young’s participation in practice though the week will become increasingly worth watching as his activation deadline nears.
Shoulda drafted Herbert
DC would have crushed him like the Chargers are doing to him now.
Nobody knows who will be injured.
Poor coaching is mostly responsible for Young’s wretched sophomore year. No decent coach would have let Chase Young get so high on the hog after a single good year.
That said, a franchise quarterback is certainly worth more than a pro bowl defensive end. Not even sure Lawrence Taylor (the greatest defensive force to every play) had the value of a franchise quarterback.
Herbert was not considered a sure thing. His college years were inconsistent: sometimes brilliant, sometimes mediocre.
why is everyone on Herbert’s jock so much. what exactly has he done to improve SD?
I agree. Tua is clearly doing more this season, but everyone says Herbert is the better player.
My point was DC, like the Chargers, & many other teams ruin highly drafted players.
Chase Young is a local Maryland product, and his family were Redskin fans before he was drafted. He was good enough in high school to get radio and TV airtime and Ohio State vs Maryland became an event.
No way was Chase Young going to pass Washington at the 2nd pick.
I wonder which college powerhouse leads in producing NFL draft busts.
Great question…. According to Pro Football Focus — They went back to 1970, limited to first round picks, and used productive playing time as a measure.
1. Florida
> First round draft busts since 1970: 11
> Total draft picks since 1970: 244
> Biggest draft bust: LB Huey Richardson
> Huey Richardson draft details: Pick #15 by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1991
Well done!
Turns out that character matters. The Florida program has been a nightmare in terms of off-field incidents and substance abuse.