Commanders Notebook: DE Chase Young Training Camp Off to a Strong Start
ASHBURN, Va. -- Day 2 of Washington Commanders training camp is in the books, and like we will be all preseason we're here with our daily notebook to look at the biggest takeaways from the first practice with fans in attendance.
Young and Rested
Today's focal point for camp stories was on defensive end Chase Young and his continued recovery from a knee injury that cost him most of the past year and a half.
The story to open camp for Young was his practicing without a knee brace on, and that continued on Day 2.
But there was a change from the first day to the next for the defense, and that was in the amount of pressure the line got on Washington quarterback Sam Howell.
Defensive end Montez Sweat was the biggest standout, but both he and Young created problems for Howell who appeared to feel the cumulative effect of it causing him to miss on some throws, even when the pressure wasn't necessarily there.
Howell Watch
Speaking of Howell, after completing 62 percent of his 11-on-11 passes on Day 1 Howell followed up with a 44 percent outing on Day 2.
The drop in accuracy can be immediately connected to the rise in pressure from the defensive line as Howell's offensive line continues to work hard toward becoming a united front.
If you're looking for a silver lining it would come in the form of zero interceptions for a second-straight day, and a throw made by Howell off his back foot in the face of pressure that just barely missed the outstretched hands of Washington tight end Logan Thomas.
As good as you can make an incomplete pass look, that one did, and if Thomas had just a step or two more it would've gone down as an impressive explosive pass while still standing as a sign of the potential living in the Commanders quarterback's arm talent.
Play of the Day
The best play today - and there was some competition - came from the second-team offense and quarterback Jacoby Brissett.
During 11-on-11 drills, Brissett took an early shot down the left sideline to receiver Dyami Brown who was matched up against second-year safety Percy Butler.
The ball was placed in a perfect spot for Brown to make a play and he went up grabbing the pass over Butler much to the delight of the crowd in attendance.
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