Stop complaining about Chase Young missing Commanders OTAs

For the second year in a row, Chase Young has missed the start of the Washington Commanders’ OTAs. And fans are not happy. As a continuation of his inability to live up to lofty expectations in year two, fans are disappointed in Young’s absence again.

But, in reality, this is not a big deal. For starters, unlike last year, Chase Young is recovering from a torn ACL. If he was in attendance, he would be standing on the sidelines cheering. Sure he could be attending meetings and Logan Thomas has been present at OTAs while dealing with the same injury. Again though, that does not mean much as each player’s preferences for treatment vary and Young’s choice happens to be someone who’s practice is in Colorado.

Chase Young is dealing with an important juncture in his career and it starts with his recovery from this ACL injury. He needs to make sure that he recovers as thoroughly and as quickly as possible. His impact, the size of his next contract, and his career longevity depend upon it. So if Young has deemed it fit to undergo his treatment in Colorado, then that is what he should do.

Sure he could get his treatment somewhere in the greater DMV area, and still attend voluntary practices, meetings, and other things but he would then be receiving care from professionals he does not fully trust. Therefore, jeopardizing his recovery process. And jeopardizing his ability to get back on the field.

Chase Young missing Commanders OTAs isn’t a big deal.

The Commanders and Chase Young could definitely receive some benefit from his presence at OTAs. But the benefits they both will receive from getting on the field in his third year and having a bounce-back 2022 campaign far exceed the impact he would have at OTAs.

Young’s number one priority should be to get healthy, so he can be an impactful player for the Commanders in 2022. And that is what he is doing in Colorado, while maintaining continual contact with his coaching staff according to Rivera.

Also, Nick Bosa, Young’s former college teammate and pass-rushing counterpart, missed 49ers OTAs in 2021 while dealing with the same injury. He then went on to retake the mantle as one of the game’s best young pass rushers with 15.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss and 32 QB hits in 2021.

Missing OTAs did not affect Bosa and it should not affect Young. Young missing OTAs is an interesting story but not an important story.

Lost in it all, really, is the bigger picture. The frustrating part about this story is it seems to be contributing to a larger narrative: the “misstep” at the 2020 NFL Draft. Chase Young was such a surefire, can’t-miss prospect that everyone just nodded their head along as the Buckeye was selected.

And then Justin Herbert, the No. 6 overall selection to the LA Chargers, went on to become a superstar quarterback. Therefore, everyone has tried to poke holes in everything Young does. And sure, in a vacuum, the Commanders would trade Herbert straight up for Young in a heartbeat. But that is revisionist history and completely ignores the reason’s Washington selected him and multiple teams attempted to trade up and get him.

Young oozes with tools. He is powerful and explosive. And he plays like his hair is on fire. Even when he is on the sideline, he bounces along with energy encouraging his teammates and chirping the opponent. Every single coach he has played for, including Ron Rivera and Jack Del Rio, have commended his work-ethic and leadership.

At just 21 years old, and in his first year in the NFL, he was awarded a captain’s patch towards the end of his rookie campaign. All of the tools and intangibles are there. Not to mention that he has been simply explosive on the field in moments.

Young’s play down the back-half of his rookie year was littered with impact plays that directly affected the outcomes of games.

The explosive hit on Joe Burrow at the goal line, the goal line stand against the Steelers, the fumble return touchdown vs the Steelers and living in the backfield against the Eagles en route to his Defensive Rookie of the Year award. Washington does not win the NFC East title in 2020 without Young, a 21-year old rookie.

While his pass-rushing production was lackluster in 2021, he still maintained his presence as one of the better run defenders in the NFL. And he may very well have heated up towards the back half of the year. We will never know due to his knee injury.

Getting lost in it all is that Chase Young is still very capable of being a DPOY-caliber player for the Commanders. Yet, even that may not save the “they passed on Herbert” narrative. So, instead a story about Young missing voluntary practices to rehab his injured knee has arose.

Young missing OTAs is a fat nothing-burger. Countless players skip those workouts now. Many prominent players like Tom Brady and Aaron Rodgers have advocated for them to no longer exist in the first place. And really, the main reason Young missing OTAs seems to be making headlines is to knock the organization.

The generational pass-rusher cannot even attend OTAs, after it was an issue last year! Meanwhile, Justin Herbert is a superstar!

Listen, there are plenty of things to rag the entirety of the franchise on. The selection of Chase Young is simply not one of them, no matter if he attends OTAs or not. Especially when he is skipping it to rehab his surgically repaired knee.