Commanders' Chase Young: 'Monster Year' Incoming?
Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young knows what is at stake this season.
After the franchise declined his fifth-year option as Young works back to full health after his ACL injury, he knows he must produce this season.
After only managing 12 games across the last two seasons, the best ability is availability. While Young played the last three games of last season (all with increased snap counts), now, he enters training camp ready to prove his worth.
For CBS Sports, Young's redemption story begins at training camp, and he could be the one ace up Jack Del Rio's sleeve that could take Washington's defense to even greater heights.
"This training camp will determine if Young is back to being the player that terrorized defenses in 2020," CBS Sports writes. "He has an excellent cast of starters on the defensive line with Montez Sweat, Jonathan Allen, and Da'Ron Payne -- setting himself up for a monster year rushing the passer if he's healthy.
"The Commanders were a top-seven defense with Young's struggles. If Young returns to his form from his rookie year, Washington evolves into one of the best defenses in football."
Under Del Rio last season, the Commanders' defense ranked seventh for points allowed per game (20.2) and ranked 12th for sacks with 43. If Young can return to his Pro Bowl rookie season form. then we see no reason Washington won't have a stellar defense this season.
But there is a lot of pressure for Young to perform, and sometimes things go the other way. With the defensive end in need of a big year, his back is against the wall, and many are counting him out.
The time has come for Young to remind the NFL world what a true game-wrecker he can be and perhaps be rewarded with a new contract in the process.
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