Chase Young status uncertain for opener after stinger injury

ASHBURN — Chase Young hasn’t been cleared for full contact after suffering a stinger injury in the first week of the regular season — putting his availability for Sept. 10th’s season opener against the Arizona Cardinals into question. 

The Washington Commanders defensive end is “progressing well,” a source familiar with the situation said. But multiple reports indicated Thursday that doctors still haven’t given Young the clear go-ahead to initiate contact. Another doctor’s appointment for Young is scheduled soon. 

Young played just four snaps in an Aug. 11 preseason game against the Cleveland Browns. He appeared to hurt his neck and reported symptoms of a stinger to Washington’s staff, which then held the former Defensive Rookie of the Year out. 

Young has since practiced with the Commanders, but has been limited with shoulder pads on. He has participated in team drills on days when Washington doesn’t wear pads. 

“The biggest thing I can tell you is the guy’s practicing, doing everything we need him to do right now as he’s getting ready for the opener,” coach Ron Rivera said. “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.”

Rivera declined to give a precise update on Young’s status, telling reporters that NFL rules don’t require to list players’ injuries until next week. The team’s first injury report comes out Wednesday, days before Washington takes on the Cardinals. 

If Young does have to miss time, it’ll be another absence for the pass rusher — who appeared in just three games last season while recovering from the serious knee injury he suffered in November 2021. Young not only tore his ACL, but he also ruptured his patellar tendon. 

Young said earlier this summer that he was back to feeling “explosive” as he got further removed from the knee injury. The pass rusher ditched his leg brace during the process, a sign that Young’s recovery was going well. 

Young has not spoken with reporters since suffering the stinger injury. The Commanders, though, did not believe the condition was serious enough to place Young on injured reserve — which would have required him to miss at least four games before being eligible to return. 

The Commanders initially kept 11 defensive linemen on their 53-man roster, but that has changed over the last few days. The team placed defensive tackle Phidarian Mathis (calf) on injured reserve and replaced him with center Tyler Larsen. Washington also placed Efe Obada on injured reserve, signing defensive tackle Abdullah Anderson to take his place.

Rivera said Obada is dealing with a patella injury, though added said he anticipated the injury being on the shorter side rather than costing him the season. Obada was a key backup for Washington, but the Commanders will now turn to James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill and rookie Andre Jones Jr. to provide depth — and possibly fill in for Young if needed.

“We like the backups,” Rivera said.

Elsewhere, Commanders wide receiver Terry McLaurin (toe), wideout Dax Milne (groin), safety Jeremy Reaves (illness) and linebacker Cody Barton (illness) did not participate in Thursday’s practice. Like Young, McLaurin’s status for the first game is uncertain. But the Commanders are optimistic about McLaurin’s status after an MRI didn’t reveal any major damage to his strained toe. 

McLaurin got hurt in Washington’s Week 2 preseason game against the Baltimore Ravens. 

Commanders tight end Logan Thomas, meanwhile, appears to be on track for the opener after being sidelined with a calf injury for most of the month. The veteran did not play in the preseason, but returned to practice last week. 

Thomas told reporters that he feels no limitations from the calf injury.

“It feels good getting my feet back under me,” Thomas said.