‘Motivated’ Chase Young makes comeback to Washington with 49ers
ASHBURN, Va. — The first season went as planned: defensive end Chase Young produced an early effect, helping the Washington Commanders win the NFC East and collecting honors for his efforts.
And then nothing else went as planned.
Young tore the ACL and ruptured the patellar tendon in his right knee nine games into his second season. He couldn’t return until the final three games of the season and then he was moved in October to the San Francisco 49ers. It was not the way in which this marriage was supposed to evolve.
Now, Young returns with the 49ers (11-4) to play at his previous stadium against the Commanders (4-11), who will undergo likely staff changes following the regular season. Meanwhile, Young will prepare for a playoff game.
Even now, Washington doesn’t like discussing the subject, instead to focus on other, more essential, matters. At the time of the deal, in which Washington acquired a third-round choice from the 49ers, Commanders coach Ron Rivera stated the move was “in the best interest of the team.” They weren’t going to commit long-term to Young — a free agency after the season — and many sources stated the Commanders had grown frustrated of trying to convince him to play within their system.
For Young, though, it has allowed him an opportunity to have fun again. The 49ers are winning, while Washington hasn’t won more than 10 games in the regular season since 1991 and went a combined 13-21 in games Young played.
“I could tell this was a motivated team,” Young remarked. “I was motivated coming in, I’m still motivated. Everybody in here is still motivated. So, it helps when you’re around guys I feel like are just like you. Motivated and attempting to hunt. I feel like it just helps.”
Young recorded five sacks in seven games with Washington; he has 2.5 in seven games with San Francisco. He recorded 38 pass rush wins with the Commanders, according to ESPN Stats & Information; he has 15 with the 49ers.
However, the rest of the 49ers’ pass rush numbers have improved during Young’s seven games. Before Young’s arrival, San Francisco had 18 sacks and 90 quarterback pressures in eight games. Since Young joined them, the 49ers have had 27 sacks and 101 pressures.
Young was starting in Washington; he’s a backup end in San Francisco.
“I think he’s had a great impact,” San Francisco coach Kyle Shanahan said. “I think he’s played the run brilliantly. I think he’s played the pass nicely. He’s helped with the rotations, simply keeping everyone out there effective and fresher. I’m extremely glad to have him.”
There’s less expectation on Young to produce out west than there was in his hometown. Here, Young was a face of the Washington franchise and someone the media wanted to interview each week. There, he’s one of several name players and isn’t as besieged with inquiries.
He also stated in Washington, if the defense underperformed, the spotlight frequently would fall on the defensive line — which, at the time, had four first-round picks. The Commanders now have only two, tackles Daron Payne and Jonathan Allen, after they dealt Montez Sweat to Chicago on the same day they shipped Young to the 49ers.
“I can just go out there,” Young remarked. “Every game you lose isn’t all on me or the D-line, per se. But I wouldn’t say play freely but I can just go play without thinking if we lose this game that they’re going to blame the D-line again.
“It’s a team sport. A D-line in a game can only do but so much. I’m not saying guys weren’t doing their job, but it takes all 11 to make it happen.”
Washington has gone 1-6 since dealing its defensive ends, albeit the unit was ailing even before those deals. The Commanders have tallied 13 sacks in those games, however nine occurred in one outing vs. the New York Giants. They have 65 pressures post-trade; they had 92 pre-trade.
But a key part of the arrangement was conceding they weren’t going to re-sign both prospective free agents. Rivera called it a “paradigm shift.” Before owner Josh Harris bought the team in July, Rivera had claimed they hoped to get a deal done with Sweat. They were willing to see how Young fared and re-sign him if the season went well — after failing to take up his fifth-year option.
According to many sources, Sweat remains the guy Washington had intended to keep. But the organization thought the possibility to get the Bears’ second-round pick made it worthwhile.
“It’s really what we felt was in the best interest of our football team going forward,” Rivera stated at the time.
Meanwhile, Young said part of why he enjoys life in San Francisco is “the culture.”
“We have a standard here,” he remarked. “I feel like everybody strives to uphold that level with whatever they do: recovery, practice, and it’s absolutely contagious. And kind of the competitive thing. You observe one of your teammates getting right and you might think, ‘All right, I gotta get right even more.’ I feel like that’s that nice competitive nature I feel like we all have to be great.”
It wasn’t the first time Young emphasized how much he enjoys San Francisco’s culture. When questioned about it this year, Rivera simply responded, “I genuinely appreciate who he is for us and who he was for us. Did some wonderful things and basically wish him all the luck in San Francisco.”
Young started his Washington career well, collecting NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year honors with 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries — including one for a touchdown vs. San Francisco. But he collected only 1.5 sacks in nine games before injuring his knee in 2021.
“Nobody imagined that those things would come up. So, that’s the bad aspect,” Rivera said of the injuries.
But that debut season hinted at more success.
“He had a great rookie year,” said Washington receiver Terry McLaurin, a teammate of Young’s at Ohio State, as well. “He got hurt and that slowed him up a little bit. You can’t teach what he has: the size, the speed, the athleticism.”
Young emphasized this week that Sunday was just another game. But he’s also returning to the city that selected him, and where he thrived in high school at DeMatha — in the same county that is home to FedEx Field. His family was a mainstay at games and at training camp sessions.
He’ll face a Washington line without starting left tackle Charles Leno Jr., out with a calf injury.
But although Young might play down the significance of playing at Washington, others know him better. Current teammate Nick Bosa stated Young is “pretty hyped up about it and excited.” Former teammate McLaurin isn’t surprised.
“He’s going to be excited for every game he plays, that energy he brings,” McLaurin said. “I definitely know he’ll be very juiced to be home and playing against his previous squad. He’ll give it his all; our offensive line will attempt to make sure that doesn’t happen.”
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