Washington Commanders Star Pass Rusher to Miss 4 Games

In what is sure to be a disappointment for Washington Commanders fans everywhere, star edge rusher Chase Young will miss at least the first four games of the regular season after being placed on Reserve/PUP, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter:

Chase Young was placed on Reserve/PUP.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 23, 2022

The news comes preceding this afternoon's deadline for teams to cut their roster down to 80 players. Moving Young to Reserve/PUP will open up a roster spot for another player while he recovers.

Young tore his ACL in week 10 of the 2021 season, and the team likely hoped he would be ready for this year's opening tilt against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Timelines on the injury have long varied, but recent success stories have given fans cause for optimism: Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson famously returned with an MVP season in 2012 after tearing his ACL and MCL in December of the previous year, and New England Patriots wide receiver Wes Welker was ready for the 2010 season opener after a similar injury in the final week of the 2009 season. Young was clearly not so lucky, and the Commanders are exercising caution with their cornerstone player by not rushing him back.

Drafted with the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft, Young immediately found success with the Commanders, winning the Associate Press Defensive Rookie of the Year award and posting an elite 87.2 overall grade from Pro Football Focus. An incredible talent out of Ohio State, Young tallied a ludicrous 30.5 sacks in college and was well on his way to superstar status in the NFL. Hopefully, he can come back healthy for the team's week five contest against the Tenessee Titans.