NFL News

Home

Teams

Quizzes

Watch

Newsletter

Former 49ers defensive end Chase Young signed with the Saints on Monday. Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports

Chase Young update should cause concern for Saints fans

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 3/20/24

On Tuesday, the New Orleans Saints signed star defensive end Chase Young to a one-year, $13M contract.

That's the good news.

The bad news is that shortly afterward it was reported that the 24-year-old will undergo a neck procedure that will sideline him into the summer.

New Saints DE Chase Young, who signed his one-year, $13 million deal with New Orleans today, is undergoing a neck procedure that is expected to sideline him into training camp, per sources. The expectation is that he will return in time for the season. Teams were aware of his… pic.twitter.com/I2saUzLFhp
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 19, 2024

Schefter noted that the Saints knew about the issue beforehand and were still "comfortable" proceeding with the contract. Young is expected to be back in time for Week 1; some fans may think the situation isn't anything to worry about.

If Young's injury history is any indication, however, there is a potentially major cause for concern.

Reminder: Unclear if related, but Chase Young missed most of 2023 training camp after suffering a "stinger" in the pre-season opener. The neurological injury kept him out of Week 1. https://t.co/Dl9o9rSi6n
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) March 19, 2024

The expectation is he’ll be able to play after recovering from surgery, source said. It’s to correct a congenital issue. https://t.co/siiX01wYO7
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) March 19, 2024

This obviously puts a damper on the Saints’ biggest move in free agency. And further explains why his market was what it was.

The hope, obviously, is that this can get Young back closer to his elite upside. https://t.co/ultZcC1X5w
— Mike Triplett (@MikeTriplett) March 19, 2024

The former No. 2 overall pick missed just one game with an injury during his 2020 rookie season, a year that saw him finish with what are still career bests in tackles for loss (10), forced fumbles (four), passes defended (four) and fumble recoveries (three) among other categories. Young earned his lone Pro Bowl honor and was named the Defensive Player of the Year.

After posting four quarterback hits, three tackles for loss and 1.5 sacks through nine games in 2021, the Ohio State product suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 10 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The injury lingered. He was placed on the physically unable to perform (PUP) list at the start of training camp in 2022, and he wasn't activated off injured reserve until November. Young didn't return to the field until Week 16 in late December, though, and suited up for just three games, recording three solo tackles and no sacks on 115 defensive snaps.

He suffered a "stinger" in last summer's preseason opener, but after missing Week 1, he played in the next 16 regular season contests.

Young was traded to the 49ers on Nov. 1 last season and played in all nine regular season games with San Francisco, plus their three playoff tilts.

More must-reads: