Commanders Ex Chase Young Undergoing Neck Surgery
Former Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young has his next home after signing a one-year deal with the New Orleans Saints, but his future could be in jeopardy.
Sports Illustrated insider Albert Breer reported that the former Commanders pass rusher is set to undergo neck surgery on Thursday. He also reported that because of his neck, it was difficult for him to find a team to sign him in free agency because doctors wouldn't clear his physical.
Chase Young.
Brad Mills-USA TODAY Sports
Because of those factors, Young's contract had nearly $8 million in incentives based on how much he plays. Breer also reported that Young will have to rehab for three to five months after surgery.
The neck injury dates back to the Commanders' opening preseason game against the Cleveland Browns when he was forced to leave early due to a stinger. That injury forced Young to miss the rest of the preseason and the first game of the regular season against the Arizona Cardinals.
Young has shown promise throughout his career, but injuries have plagued his ability to live up to expectations since entering the league as the No. 2 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 in that span.
After having a full offseason to prepare rather than rehabbing, Young bounced back for a solid 2023 season, registering 7.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits for the Commanders and San Francisco 49ers, who acquired him at the trade deadline for a conditional 3rd-round pick.
With a one-year deal that's heavily based on incentives and how often he plays, Young has a chance to fully revive his career. But if he's going to that, Young will have to shake the same injury issues that plagued his tenure with Washington, this time with it being a neck injury, which can be more severe than a torn ACL and has been a career-ender for many.
