The upcoming season is going to be a pivotal one for Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young. After the team declined his fifth-year option for 2024, Young has to prove he deserves a long-term contract beyond this year.
What complicates his efforts is he is coming off a torn ACL. He suffered the injury in 2021 and was limited to three games in 2022. His recovery and return to the field seemed prolonged. Ultimately, those were factors in the team’s call to pass on the fifth year.
As training camp started, one sight that got noticed was Chase Young not wearing a brace over his surgically repaired knee. He wore it during last year’s training camp and when he returned to the field in Week 16.
Ditching the brace now, in a contract year, is risky. Yet, the 24-year-old doesn’t see it that way.
“Just know that I feel good, I’m running around, and I’m feeling explosive again,” Young said, per JP Finlay of 106.7 the Fan.
The Commanders and Young hope he returns to the form that earned him Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020. As the second overall pick in that year’s draft, he racked up 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, 24 pressures, four forced fumbles, and three fumble recoveries.
However, his second year was a struggle. He had a mere 1.5 sacks in nine games despite 13 pressures and eight hurries before he tore his ACL against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Last year was about getting over the injury both physically and mentally. This year is all business for Chase Young, literally and figurately. He must stay healthy and produce to prove he warrants a new contract and is not a bust.
The good thing is Young is feeling explosive and ready to get going this season.
