Even before the Washington Football Team brings in any new faces this offseason, there’s reason to be bullish on their future.
After all, it’s just not possible for the club to endure as much adversity as it did throughout the 2021-22 regular season. Speaking strictly in terms of injuries, can anyone remember the last time the roster was at full-strength?
It’d almost be easier to keep track of players who didn’t get hurt.
Between Chase Young, JD McKissic, Logan Thomas, Landon Collins, Montez Sweat, William Jackson, Curtis Samuel, Chase Roullier, Ryan Fitzpatrick, Sam Cosmi, Jon Bostic, Wes Schweitzer and Benjamin St-Juste, an impossible number of impact players spent time on the shelf due to injury.
It’s fair to assume that number will drop in a significant way next season, but Washington will also be counting on these players — at least the ones that are signed through 2022, anyway — to rebound.
That’s easier said than done, but when it comes to Chase Young and his torn ACL, 49er star Nick Bosa should give him hope.
Kyle Shanahan today on Nick Bosa: “I don't think people appreciate how good Bosa is play-in and play-out. I've heard people talk about him for Comeback Player of the Year, and every time they say that, I can't believe he hasn't been mentioned in Defensive Player of the Year.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) January 14, 2022
49ers star Nick Bosa’s incredible season post-ACL surgery should instill confidence in Chase Young.
The similarities between Bosa’s and Young’s career trajectories are hard to ignore. Both players starred at Ohio State (they were teammates) and won Defensive Rookie of the Year in consecutive seasons in 2019 and 2020. Like Young, Bosa, due to a torn ACL, lost the chance to piggyback off a promising rookie season.
For those who don’t know, Bosa was one of the most proficient pass rushers in the league this campaign. The likes of TJ Watt, Aaron Donald, Myles Garrett and yes, Micah Parsons, have garnered more buzz for the Defensive Player of the Year award, but Bosa’s numbers were right on par with those studs.
For comparison’s sake, let’s take a look at how Bosa’s statistics align with some of the best defensive ends in 2021. We’ll throw Maxx Crosby in there, too, since he got an All-Pro nod over the 49ers game-wrecker.
- Bosa: 21 tackles for loss (leads NFL), 15.5 sacks, 32 QB hits, 75 pressures, 42 hurries, four forced fumbles, 89.8 pass rush grade.
- Watt: 21 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, 39 QB hits, 62 pressures, 25 hurries, five forced fumbles, 90.6 pass rush grade.
- Garrett: 16 tackles for loss, 16 sacks, 33 QB hits, 78 pressures, 45 hurries, one forced fumble, 92.7 pass-rush grade.
- Crosby: 13 tackles for loss, 8 sacks, 30 QB hits, 101 pressures, 72 hurries, zero forced fumbles, 91.8 pass-rush grade.
- Parsons: 20 tackles for loss, 13 sacks, 30 QB hits, 67 pressures, 39 hurries, three forced fumbles, 93.0 pass-rush grade.
See what we’re saying? Bosa underwent ACL reconstruction surgery last year and legitimately hasn’t skipped a beat. Important to note, too, that Bosa was one of the most double-teamed DEs in the month of December.
https://twitter.com/NBCS49ers/status/1482176411398025224
This isn’t to say that Young will replicate Bosa’s all-word season.
Fans should know Bosa’s injury occurred just two games into last season. Since Young played into November, odds are he won’t be all systems go for the start of training camp, like Bosa was. Rather, it’s more likely Young is limited at camp, through the preseason and maybe a few weeks into the regular season.
That’s also not the point. Expecting Young to be an All-Pro candidate after a major surgery is as unrealistic as it is unfair. What matters is that the blueprint is there for Young to hit the ground running whenever he does return.
The recovery timeline for ACLs is much earlier compared to what it used to be and Bosa is just the latest example that it’s no longer a career-altering injury.
Doubt Young at your own risk, folks.