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Chase Young

Commanders Place Chase Young On Reserve/PUP List

August 23rd, 2022 at 10:35am CST by Sam Robinson

Chase Young was not expected to return for the start of the Commanders’ season. The team’s Tuesday transaction involving the standout defensive end will ensure he is not back until October.

Washington moved Young from the active/PUP list to the reserve/PUP list today, a decision that will sideline the third-year pass rusher for at least the season’s first four games. Teams can begin designating reserve/PUP players today; Washington also moved offensive lineman Tyler Larsen to that list.

It is unsurprising the team is being cautious with the former Defensive Rookie of the Year. Young suffered a torn ACL on Nov. 14, 2021. Beginning the season on the Commanders’ PUP list will extend his recovery timetable to nearly 11 months. Young, 23, will miss games against the Jaguars, Lions, Eagles and Cowboys.

Last season brought a step back on multiple fronts for Young, who played a major role in lifting Washington to the 2020 NFC East title. Prior to the injury, the Ohio State product registered just 1.5 sacks and four quarterback hits in nine games. As a rookie the year prior, the No. 2 overall pick totaled 7.5 sacks and forced four fumbles, returning one for a touchdown.

Washington dealt with injuries to Young and Montez Sweat last season, one that featured the same number of wins as its 2020 campaign (seven) but a finish well back of the division-leading Cowboys. This could be the final year the team deploys its starting D-line of the past two seasons, with Daron Payne in a contract year. Sweat is signed through 2023, via the fifth-year option, and Young will become extension-eligible in January.

A 2022 bounce-back year will obviously help put Young in position to become one of the league’s highest-paid defenders, but his journey back will not involve game action for a bit.

Chase Young Expected To Miss Start Of Regular Season

July 29th, 2022 at 9:00am CST by Adam La Rose

One of the top storylines in Washington this offseason has been the progress defensive end Chase Young makes as he continues to recover from a torn ACL. The injury kept him sidelined during the spring, and, as expected, has landed him on the PUP list to start training camp. His Week 1 availability is now very much in question as well. 

Head coach Ron Rivera said, via NFL.com’s Kevin Patra, that the 23-year-old is “probably going to miss a little bit of time” to start the regular season. He added that Young’s ACL tear is “a little more severe” than that suffered by tight end Logan Thomas, who is himself likely to miss the opening few games of the campaign.

“Chase and I had a conversation,” Rivera continued, “and I said, ‘Look, don’t push yourself. This is not just about this season, but it’s also about the future.'” Referencing the setbacks felt by Curtis Samuel after the Commanders tried to bring him back early, Rivera also said, “what we’ve done, we’ve backed up, looked at everybody, and said, ‘hey, we know there is a timeframe that you say look, OK, this is when we’ll get this guy back.’ But we’ve got to be really careful with [Young] just because of who he is for us.”

The 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year was limited to nine games last year, one which saw him fall short of his statistical performance the season prior with just 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. Young will have lofty expectations upon his return, but if the Commanders place him on IR to start the campaign, he will be sidelined for at least four games. The progress he makes in the coming weeks will thus be worth closely monitoring.

Minor NFL Transactions: 7/26/22

July 26th, 2022 at 7:56pm CST by Ben Levine

Today’s minor NFL transactions, including a handful of notable names landing on the physically unable to perform list and the non-football injury list as teams open up camp:

Arizona Cardinals

Chicago Bears

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Miami Dolphins

  • Released with NFI designation: WR Cody Core

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Washington Commanders

Chase Young Expected To Start Training Camp On PUP

June 15th, 2022 at 6:21pm CST by Ben Levine

Chase Young is likely heading to the PUP. Commanders coach Ron Rivera told ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler that he expects his star defensive end to start training camp on the physically unable to perform list (Twitter link).

Young is still recovering form a torn ACL suffered in November. A recent report indicated that the former second-overall pick could be back at some point in June, but it sounds like the pass rusher will now be sidelined through at least July. In the meantime, Young is rehabbing his knee with the team.

“I wouldn’t put a timetable on it,” Young said earlier this month (via ESPN.com). “Obviously, I want to be back there as fast as I can, but right now I’m just taking it one day at a time and I’m getting better fast. I know that. Just taking it one day at a time. I can’t rush it.”

The defensive end lived up to his draft billing in 2020, earning Defensive Rookie of the Year after compiling 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss, 12 QB hits, and four forced fumbles. He slumped a bit during his sophomore season; before suffering his injury, he collected only 1.5 sacks in nine starts.

Despite his struggles, Washington will welcome back the 23-year-old with open arms. He’ll be rejoining one of the top defensive lines in the NFL, with Young playing alongside the likes of Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat, and Daron Payne.

NFL Injury Notes: McCaffrey, Texans, Young, Brady, 49ers

May 28th, 2022 at 8:28pm CST by Ely Allen

Since signing a deal that gave him the highest average salary of any running back in the NFL, Christian McCaffrey has missed 23 of 33 games. From a high ankle sprain to a shoulder injury to a hamstring injury and back around to his ankle again, McCaffrey has seen more than his fair share of the injured reserve. According to Joseph Person of The Athletic, McCaffrey reached out for some help this offseason.

Among a few others, one of the players McCaffrey sought help from was Hall of Fame running back Marshall Faulk, one of two players who share with McCaffrey the distinction of recording at least 1,000 rushing yards and 1,000 receiving yards in a single season, the other being Roger Craig. Faulk was especially healthy later in his career despite having a tendency for a higher amount of total touches as a receiving back, his late health being a trait that McCaffrey would love to emulate.

Person reports that Panthers head coach Matt Rhule indicated McCaffrey would again be held out of the preseason and that the team is also looking into how they use their star during practice. McCaffrey, himself, has been tweaking his own offseason routine, in hopes of reversing his string of bad luck.

Here are a few other injury updates from around the NFL, starting with two out of the Lone Star State:

  • From an interview with Texans head coach Lovie Smith, Aaron Wilson of Pro Football Network reports that pass rusher Jonathan Greenard and safety Eric Murray will be ready to return to the field by the time training camp rolls around. Greenard, who led the team in sacks last season with 8.0, underwent foot surgery over the offseason. Murray had shoulder surgery after starting 11 games for Houston last year.
  • The Commanders are expecting former Defensive Rookie of the Year Chase Young to rejoin the team in the next couple of weeks, according to Nicki Jhabvala of the Washington Post. The young defensive end is coming off an ACL tear he suffered in a Week 10 game against the Buccaneers. Young was having a bit of a sophomore slump last year, only recording 1.5 sacks in nine games of action, but Washington will nonetheless be happy to reunite him with Jonathan Allen, Montez Sweat, and Daron Payne in what may be the NFL’s best all-around pass rushing defensive line.
  • Although not a recent injury, Buccaneers quarterback Tom Brady talked about the condition of his left knee in a call with Rick Stroud of the Tampa Bay Times this week. Last offseason saw Brady limited a bit due to surgery he underwent to repair the MCL tear he suffered during his last season in New England. With the injury far in the rearview mirror, Brady has reportedly been doing much more to prepare for the upcoming season this summer, “including some sprint work to help with his mobility.”
  • Cam Inman of the East Bay Times reported an assertion from 49ers head coach Kyle Shanahan that San Francisco will likely play it safe and hold out tight end George Kittle and linebacker Fred Warner until training camp. About two of his stars, the sixth-year head coach claimed the team was “being smart” by using a little extra time to allow the two to get over their “lower half” issues.

WFT’s Chase Young Done For Year

November 15th, 2021 at 12:15pm CST by Zachary Links

Chase Young‘s season is officially over. On Monday, Washington head coach Ron Rivera confirmed that the defensive end has been diagnosed with a torn ACL (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport). 

[RELATED: WFT’s Fitzpatrick Done For Season]

This was the feared outcome yesterday when Young went down with zero contact. Washington went on to beat the Buccaneers 29-19, but it’s a bittersweet victory given today’s news. They’re now severely shorthanded up front, especially since Montez Sweat is still sidelined with a broken jaw.

Young, the No. 2 overall pick in 2020, finished his first year with Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He had 7.5-sacks last year; this season will end with just 1.5 sacks and 25 total stops.

“It’s definitely sad,” defensive tackle Jon Allen said on Sunday (via ESPN.com). “It’s going to be tough, but knowing Chase’s personality, knowing the way he works and the kind of guy he is, he’ll come back stronger than ever.”

Without Young and Sweat, Washington is left with James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill, Bunmi Rotimi, and rookie Shaka Toney at defensive end. They’ll look to add another edge rusher to the mix this week as they gear up for Sunday’s matchup with the Panthers.

Torn ACL For WFT’s Chase Young?

November 14th, 2021 at 3:19pm CST by Zachary Links

Not yet official, but the early word isn’t promising. The Washington Football Team fears a torn ACL for star defensive end Chase Young, according to NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport (Twitter link). 

Young went down in the second quarter with a dreaded non-contact injury. Washington went on to win 29-19 over the Bucs, but the former No. 2 overall pick did not return to the field. Young declined to be carted off, but team doctors are pretty sure that he’s looking at a season-ending ACL tear. And, given the timing, his rehab could extend into the summer.

Although Young wasn’t having a banner year before the injury, there was hope for a stronger second half. Young finished last year with 7.5 sacks, capturing 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. So far this year, he’s got just 1.5 sacks with 25 total stops.

If Young is actually done for the year, Washington will be without both of their top defensive ends for a while. Montez Sweat — out with a broken jaw — is still weeks away from returning. James Smith-Williams, Casey Toohill, Bunmi Rotimi, and seventh-round rookie Shaka Toney stand as the only other healthy DEs on the depth chart.

Washington Signs Chase Young

July 23rd, 2020 at 8:49am CST by Zachary Links

It’s a done deal. No. 2 overall pick Chase Young has formally signed his rookie deal with Washington, as NFL.com’s Ian Rapoport tweets. 

Young was widely viewed as the top talent in this year’s class. Ron Rivera & Co. tried their best, but they couldn’t hide their affinity for the Ohio State sack machine. In fact, most teams didn’t even bother to reach out to Young – there was little chance that he’d be available after No. 2.

Young dominated in the Big Ten, racking up 16.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss in only 12 games last year. Meanwhile, the advanced metrics at Pro Football Focus show that Young’s performance was positively off the charts. His 2019 score slotted him ahead of Josh Allen (Kentucky, 2018), Nick Bosa (Ohio State, 2017), Myles Garrett (Texas A&M, 2015), and every other collegiate edge rusher dating back to 2014.

It’s all even more impressive when you consider that Young was the focus of every opposing offensive line, including some of the nation’s most elite units. He was frequently double-teamed, and it rarely worked. He was slowed a bit by the extra attention against Michigan in December, but that only served to open up wider lanes for the rest of the front seven. In the end, Ohio State rolled to a 56-27 blowout.

Young’s four-year deal will pay him $34.56MM in total, including a $22.7MM signing bonus, paid up front.

Redskins Will Not Trade No. 2 Pick

April 23rd, 2020 at 6:28pm CST by Andrew Ortenberg

Just moments after it was officially confirmed that the Bengals wouldn’t trade the first pick, the Redskins are following suit. Washington has made their decision and they will not trade the second pick, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link).

Rapsheet says they’re keeping the pick “because they love the player who will be there for them,” which is almost certainly Ohio State pass-rusher Chase Young. The Redskins fielded offers for the pick, and the Falcons were reportedly one of the teams that seriously tried to move up to take Young. We heard yesterday that one team had made a “complete offer” for the selection, but ultimately Washington decided they couldn’t part with it.

Young dominated in the Big Ten last season, racking up 16.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss in only 12 games. He’s viewed by many as the top overall prospect in the draft, and should provide an instant boost to Washington’s defense. Assuming the pick is Young, the Redskins will have a ton of youthful talent on their defensive front with fellow youngsters Daron Payne, Montez Sweat, and Jonathan Allen also present.

Falcons Tried To Move Up For Chase Young

April 22nd, 2020 at 7:40pm CST by Sam Robinson

Being connected to rumors of making a big leap in the first round, the Falcons attempted to craft a major trade-up. They tried to move from No. 16 to No. 2 to draft Chase Young, Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reports (on Twitter).

Young was indeed Atlanta’s target at No. 2, but Glazer adds the Redskins view the Ohio State pass rusher as too valuable to part ways with the draft’s second pick (Twitter link). This may have been the “complete offer” ESPN’s Josina Anderson referenced earlier Wednesday.

Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff is not new to big-game hunting in the draft. In 2011, he executed a trade that vaulted the Falcons from No. 26 to No. 6. That selection produced a future Hall of Fame player in Julio Jones. Dimitroff’s efforts this time around have thus far been unsuccessful. But Atlanta has been linked to a trade-up for several days now; a tackle may be another target in this pursuit.

The Falcons already authorized a three-year, $48MM deal for Dante Fowler. Sacrificing extensive draft assets to move up for Young would have made this an incredible offseason regarding Falcons resource allocation at defensive end. The team still has Takk McKinley as well.

Neither McKinley nor fellow ex-first-rounder Vic Beasley — now with the Titans — has played on the level the Falcons hoped. And Atlanta had a McKinley replacement lined up. With no other Young-caliber edge-rushing prospect in this draft, the Falcons might need to go with a Fowler-McKinley tandem.

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