The Washington Football Team received some heartbreaking news on Monday. Their star defensive end Chase Young has been diagnosed with a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the 2021 season.
The team confirmed the news on social media.
Young got hurt in the second quarter of Washington’s 29-19 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday. The reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year was making a rush on a third-down when he suddenly went to the ground and remained there with a painful look on his face. He managed to limp off the field with the help of his teammates and medical staff, but it was clear at that point that his season might be over.
Speaking about Young’s injury during Monday’s conference, Washington’s head coach Ron Rivera took a moment to praise his development as a vocal presence and admitted that the team would miss this moving forward.
“That’s one of the things you want, a guy who not only says something but at some point will make an impact play,” Rivera said. “That’s the tough part you have to replace. … Somebody will have to step up.”
After becoming the second overall pick in last year’s draft, Chase Young went on to have a statement rookie campaign. He finished 2020 with 42 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, and one defensive touchdown. This also brought him a Pro Bowl nod.
However, the sophomore year proved to be more challenging for Young. Throughout the first nine games of the season, he only managed to get 1.5 sacks while adding 22 tackles and two forced fumbles.
