49ers DE Chase Young Felt 'Good to be Home' vs. Commanders

The Washington Commanders traded Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers putting him on a direct path to the postseason. But he made a trip home first.

The Washington Commanders sent waves through the NFL by trading defensive end Chase Young to the San Francisco 49ers who returned Sunday to help his new team beat his old one.

For the Commanders, it wasn't a welcome reunion as they walked out of FedEx Field with a double-digit loss, their fourth such loss since trading Young to the 49ers.

On top of getting the win against Washington, Young said it was good to be back in the DMV where he spent his youth setting the stage for what would become an NFL career.

San Francisco 49ers defensive end Chase Young (92) walks towards the locker room after the 49ers defeated the Seattle Seahawks at Levi's Stadium / Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports

“I feel good," Young said after the game. "Just feel good to be home in general. Back to what’s familiar, familiar feelings. Just being back in College Park felt good.”

Statistically, Young wasn't noticed much on the field coming up with one solo tackle and a quarterback hit while playing 26 snaps for the San Francisco defense.

But in a season of loss it was hard not to keep one eye turned toward 49ers No. 92 as we stack his potential and that of defensive end Montez Sweat, who was traded to the Chicago Bears in the same week, among the games and opportunities squandered in 2023. 

“Football is football, but it was good. Good seeing some of my guys over there," Young said about the emotions attached to this game. He continued saying, "My teammates made it a lot easier for me. They’ve roped me in. I feel like I've been a part of the team for four years. Yeah, it's been pretty smooth.”

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The emotions between Young and his hometown team may be a little off right now but the defensive end is surely aware there are plenty back home who will be spending part of their favorite team's offseason cheering on him and his San Francisco teammates. 

In that way, a win for him and the 49ers would be celebrated as a win for those who stand behind him despite the different colors he's wearing today. 

And if the bye week San Francisco earned by beating Washington this weekend could be a contributing factor.