Will Commanders’ Chase Young participate in second week of OTAs?

The Commanders are back on the field Tuesday.

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Will Chase Young come and participate in this week’s Commanders OTAs?

May 30-June 1 is another three-day set for Young to show he does not really think he is above it all.

Will Chase Young get a new contract for the 2024 season in Washington? We never would have dreamed when drafted the second player overall in the 2020 draft that it would come down to this season. But it really will.

That is if Young has not already burned his bridges.

Consider that Young was the only one of 90 to not come to OTAs in the 2021 season and proceeded to have a subpar, ineffective season before his injury.

Consider that Young then told the media that they would have done their job the same way he did. When in fact, Young had freely chosen to schedule to do a commercial while his teammates (all of them) were working at OTAs.

Consider that Young and head coach Ron Rivera had some sort of communication last season, and Rivera told the media that Young now understood and he would be at OTA sessions this time.

Consider again Young did not participate last week, and when Ron Rivera spoke to the media about it, Rivera mentioned they had texted. Texted.

There are many that want to blame Rivera for this one. But why? They simply want to support the player. They want to say, “What don’t you understand about voluntary?”

Consider that others are in the final year of their contract. How about safety Kam Curl? If Young does not produce BIG TIME in 2023, wouldn’t the Commanders choose to re-sign Curl and not Young?

Consider if Young does not have a big year in 2023, his value across the league will only continue to trend downward

Young needs to start facing the fact that guys like Jamin Davis, who are injured, but showed up last week to learn, to show they are team-oriented and want to work on their craft. Davis no doubt earned the respect of coaches and teammates.

Rivera actually displayed a great deal of restraint in his response last week. Rivera was quite cautious and kind regarding Young’s absence. This is despite the fact Young has done little to show he understands the reality of where he stands now.

Craig Hoffman (The Team 980) last week said it very succinctly, “Realistically, the way Chase Young has handled this the last three years, he has built a foundation to not be trusted.”

Yet, Young fancies himself a leader of the Commanders. He likes to give his speeches to players, to tell players to follow him, and yet he seems to be entirely unaware that his teammates are entirely aware of who shows up to work on their craft and who does not.

This week is another opportunity for Young. What will he do with it?

Junkies question Commanders’ Chase Young choice to not attend OTAs

Lots of thoughts on Chase Young missing OTAs as he enters a huge 2023 season.

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Chase Young being absent certainly brought out the energy from the Sports Junkies.

Wednesday, the Junkies (106.7 The Fan), as they often do, brought their true feelings and questions responding to the fact that again Chase Young had chosen to not participate in the voluntary OTAs.

Here are some of the more memorable moments of the segment from John Cakes Auville (JA), Jason Bishop (JB), Eric Bickel (EB) and John-Paul Flaim (JPF).

JB: “Chase is preoccupied. He doesn’t love being here. He doesn’t like hanging out with the other defensive linemen. He doesn’t feel like he is part of the team. That’s because of his own decisions.”

JA: “He is sulking about the team not picking up his 5th-year option. I know it’s voluntary, but it is also a bad look. It’s also a bad look to all the other teams who could employ him in the future.”

JPF: “Bingo. They don’t want him; he doesn’t want to go to anything voluntary.”

EB: “Ok, it is voluntary. But you are now really putting pressure on yourself. It’s put up or shut up. I just question, Does Chase love football? Does he love being a part of this team? Does he want to be great?”

JA: “I also question his inner circle. Who is advising him to skip OTAs? Is it his decision? Is it people in his ear saying, ‘You shouldn’t go to OTAs; they didn’t offer you the 5th-year option.’ ”

EB: “It pains me to say this because he is local, and we all root for him. When he was a superstar at Ohio State and was drafted 2nd overall, he had arrived. Ok, you got some money, but you haven’t really arrived yet until you can do it at this level. He had 7.5 sacks his first year, but ain’t nobody going to the Hall of Fame with only 7.5 sacks. He strikes me as a guy who thinks he has arrived.”

JB: “He is immature. He has a high immaturity level, and that is hurting him big time.”