Tag: Chase Young returns to work

Commanders, fans give Chase Young another reason to be motivated

What’s your predictions for Chase Young’s sack total in 2023?

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How many sacks will Chase Young accumulate in 2023?

Well, Wednesday night, I discovered former Washington wide receiver Anthony Armstrong had stated he believed the Over/Under for Young’s sack total this 2023 season should be 6.5.

6.5? Wait, 6.5??

How did that happen that folks are actually thinking the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft in his fourth season will only generate 6.5 sacks?

If you are unfamiliar with over/under, the idea is that the folks setting the number, attempt to set the number where they will manufacture the most action (betting money action) where it will come from both sides (over and under).

Young injured his knee during the 2021 season against Tampa Bay. He then remained out the first 15 weeks of 2022 before appearing in the last three games in Weeks 16-18.

The former Ohio State All-American and NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year (2020) pleased players, coaches and fans when he reported for the mandatory OTAs this week (June 6-8). He has been wearing a rather large brace for now, and all hopes are that Young is simply being cautious, not taking any chances as this is only the beginning of June.

It was noted by Mitchell Tischler (NBC Sports Washington) that Young was still wearing a brace, though Phidarian Mathis, injured in 2022, was not wearing a brace.

Young is going into a huge contract year for himself. The former Buckeye has already stated he is motivated. In 2020, he tallied 7.5 sacks, and Young this year knows he has not been offered the fifth-year option. There is plenty of motivation with those two facts alone.

If you had been asked after his 7.5 sacks in 2020, what would you predict as a sack total for Young in 2021? No doubt, the 6.5 prediction reveals that there are some out there whose expectations of Young have certainly declined and are trending downward.

Well, it’s only early June. Let’s at least wait until we see how Young looks in a preseason game before we determine what his sack total will be this season.

6.5? Perhaps when Young learns of that low total being predicted, he will have yet another reason to be highly motivated to prove everyone wrong.

Commanders got good news when Young, Sweat and Leno returned

The Commanders were happy to have Leno, Young and Sweat back Tuesday.

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Some really good news for the Commanders at this week’s mandatory workouts, Chase Young, Montez Sweat and Charles Leno are back.

Of course, Young was asked about the Commanders not picking up his 5th-year option. But Young handled it well with a succinct answer.

It was clearly a business decision that the Commanders made, and Young wants to work out and not discuss it any further.

All three were kept out of some reps as Commanders coaches and trainers did not know where they were physically.

It was reported on Twitter by Nicki Jhabvala of The Washington Post that “Ron Rivera said they will ramp up Chase Young, Montez Sweat and Charles Leno to get a feel for where they’re at physically before throwing them in there fully. The three trained elsewhere during voluntary OTAs.”

Sweat has developed into a good run defender, and with NFL pass rushers not growing on trees, it is important for Sweat to have a good year this 2023 season.

Both Young and Sweat are both represented by the same agency and thus it is not out of the question that they were both advised that it would not be wise to work out in team situations where injuries sometimes occur, placing the player in jeopardy if he has no contract beyond the next season.

It is good to also see Leno back in camp workouts. The 2022 offensive line play trended downward. One fan this week called Leno “a turnstile,” and another said that Leno was “horrible and plays the most important position of the offensive line.”

Washington drafted Braeden Daniels 118th overall (offensive tackle, Utah), but most analysts feel Daniels is too light and needs more experience and mass gained before he could unseat the veteran Leno for the job.

The Commanders having re-signed both starting defensive tackles (Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne), speculation is already rising the Commanders may wait and see what type of seasons the defensive ends produce and determine which, if either (Young, Sweat), they will re-sign.

The Commanders drafted defensive ends K.J. Henry (137) and Andre Jones (233) in the latest NFL draft. If these two put any pressure on out there, we can only hope it is the pressure that results in urgency for both Sweat and Young this summer.

Chase Young returns to Commanders: Mixed fan reaction

Reactions were mixed to Young’s return Monday. One thing is unanimous: Everyone wants to see him have a big 2023 season.

Chase Young was back at the Ashburn facility Monday but the reaction of Commanders fans was rather mixed in response.

The Commanders quickly tweeted a video of Young stating he was back for media day. Unfortunately, many fans did not take too kindly to Young stating he was back for media day.

Commanders Wire will not reveal those tweets, as more than a few were inappropriate for our site.

Commanders Wire has been disappointed that Young chose not to work out the last two opportunities he was given. He was one of only three players (Montez Sweat, Charles Leno) who chose not to attend the last two weeks of “voluntary” workouts.

But certainly, Commanders Wire wholeheartedly hopes that Young has a big 2023 and performs like the player that was selected No. 2 in 2020. What a fun thing it would be to see the Commanders have a big-time pass rusher in Young, who brought great expectations when he was voted NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year after his 2020 season.

Here is a sampling of some of the Twitter reactions to Young’s Monday return in time for media day.