Commanders DE Chase Young To Miss Week 1

Chase Young has dealt with his fair share of injuries through three seasons in the NFL, and it looks like he won’t enter a crucial 2023 campaign unscathed. The Commanders announced that the pass rusher has been downgraded to out for the season opener. NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero was first with the news.

[RELATED: Commanders Will Not Exercise Chase Young’s Fifth-Year Option]

Fortunately, it’s not all bad news for Young. Pelissero notes that the defensive end has been cleared for contact in practice, an indication that he could be ready to go for Week 2. ESPN’s John Keim writes that the team wanted to see how the player responded to contact in practice before making him active. Young has been dealing with a neck stinger since the team’s preseason opener.

The former second-overall pick was Defensive Rookie of the Year after collecting 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, and 12 QB hits. His numbers were down to start his sophomore campaign before he was sidelined by a torn ACL and patellar tendon in his right knee.

Young made his return to the active roster in Week 12 of last season, but he was inactive for three weeks before finally making his season debut in Week 15. The 24-year-old ended up being limited to only three appearances in 2022, finishing with five tackles while appearing in 65 percent of his team’s defensive snaps. Following the season, the Commanders declined Young’s fifth-year option, making the pass rusher a free agent following the 2023 campaign.

As Keim notes, the Commanders could be down some significant DL depth against the Cardinals. James Smith-Williams is questionable with an oblique issue, and the recent injuries ultimately forced the team to re-sign William Bradley-King after cutting the defensive lineman in August.

The Commander also announced that wideout Jamison Crowder has been elevated from the practice squad. NFL Network’s Mike Garafolo notes that the veteran is expected to serve as the team’s primary punt returner during the season opener. Crowder started his career in Washington, spending four years with the organization. In the time since, he had a three-year stint with the Jets before signing with the Bills for the 2022 campaign. The 30-year-old was with the Giants during the preseason before catching on with Washington’s practice squad earlier this week.