Chase Young, a former Washington Commanders defensive end, has found his new home after signing a one-year contract with the New Orleans Saints, but his future could be jeopardised.
Albert Breer, a Sports Illustrated insider, revealed that the former Commanders pass rusher will have neck surgery Thursday. He also stated that because of his neck, he struggled to find a team to sign him in free agency since physicians refused to pass his physical.
Because of these considerations, Young’s contract included roughly $8 million in incentives based on how often he played. Breer also stated that Young will need to rehab for three to five months following surgery.
The neck issue dates back to the Commanders’ first preseason game against the Cleveland Browns, when he was forced to leave early with a stinger. Young missed the remainder of the preseason as well as the first game of the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals due to the injury.
Young has shown promise throughout his career, but injuries have hampered his ability to meet expectations since entering the league as the second overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. A torn ACL limited him to just 12 games between the 2021 and 2022 seasons, and he only had 1.5 sacks during that time.
After a full summer to prepare rather than recuperate, Young rebounded for a strong 2023 season, recording 7.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits for the Commanders and San Francisco 49ers, who acquired him at the trade deadline in exchange for a conditional third-round pick.
