Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young has not yet been medically cleared to return from a stinger that occurred in the preseason opener.
Head coach Ron Rivera confirmed after practice Thursday that Young’s status remains uncertain for the Sept. 10 season opener against the visiting Arizona Cardinals.
“The guy is practicing and doing everything we need him to do right now as he’s getting ready for the opener,” Rivera told reporters. “I have no idea what the doctor’s going to do, but I do know right now that he’s told him he can continue to progress and get himself ready to go. Until then, there’s nothing we can tell you, nothing we can say.”
Young, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, has been practicing without pads but has not participated in any full-contact activities since his Aug. 11 injury at Cleveland.
Rivera said Young’s status will be updated next week after a follow-up examination. It’s a positive sign that the team elected not to place Young on injured reserve, which would have kept him out the first four weeks.
Young, 24, tore his right ACL in November 2021. He missed the final eight games that season and sat out the first 14 games in 2022 while recovering from the injury.
The 2020 NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year has posted 75 tackles, 17 quarterback hits, nine sacks and three fumble recoveries in 27 career games (26 starts).
–Field Level Media