It didn’t take long for Chase Young’s health to become a hot topic among New Orleans Saints fans. The defensive end signed a three-year contract worth $51 million this spring and was a consistent presence at training camp all summer, but he pulled up in Wednesday’s practice session with a calf issue. Then he was held out of practice altogether on Thursday, putting his status in doubt for Sunday’s opener with the Arizona Cardinals (and dynamic quarterback Kyler Murray).
But it doesn’t sound like this is going to be a lingering issue for Young. Multiple reports downplayed the seriousness of the injury, and when he was asked directly by NewOrleans.Football’s Nick Underhill if this is a long-term concern, Young replied “Hell no.” He said it loud enough that ESPN’s Katherine Terrell heard him from across the locker room.
While that doesn’t make his absence in Week 1 any less disappointing, it’s a good thing that Young could still play 15 or 16 games this year. The Saints just signed him with the expectation that he’ll be a big piece for them for the next three years. Rushing him back and risking a serious injury isn’t worth it. That’s how “calf tightness” develops into a torn Achilles.
If Young can’t play on Sunday (and his midweek downgrade suggests he won’t), the Saints will have to lean harder on Carl Granderson, Cameron Jordan, and Chris Rumph II to pick up the slack. They also have rookie seventh-round pick Fadil Diggs on the practice squad with a couple of recent free agent signings, so maybe Eku Leota or Garrett Nelson could be called up. It’s something to watch for in the days leading up to kickoff.