The New Orleans Saints will play their second consecutive game without Chase Young to start the season. Young suffered a calf injury during practice last week, and it may be more concerning than originally believed.
It's not time to press the red button, but it is time to monitor the situation with a more watchful eye. When asked if this was a long-term issue last week, Young boldly said "hell no." Missing a game after suffering the injury was expected, but Young's response gave the impression that Week 1 would be the only game he missed.
Fast forward a week and the team has already ruled Young out of Sunday's game versus the San Francisco 49ers. That's still not a long absence, but the edge rusher not practicing all week suggests there's no sign of improvement. It's fair to begin questioning if the injury is more severe than originally thought.
Saints looked good without Chase Young in Week 1, but that can quickly change
Young is the Saints' top pass rusher off the edge. Your eyes tell you that, and the numbers support the assessment. He received a new contract this offseason from the Saints. The message was clear when Young signed. We trust him to be the guy.
On one hand, seeing Young out is concerning. He played all 17 games a year ago, but injuries slowed down the early portion of his career. On the other hand, Young's absence pushes Cameron Jordan into a bigger role than anticipated.
Jordan looked outstanding in Week 1. Looked god enough to make stressing about him having a bigger role look foolish. We may want to be hesitant before assuming this will be his consistent production.
Jordan's not going to average 1.5 sacks per game, and no one expects him too. That would put him on pace to smash the sack record. Can he be a consistent pass rush presence? His recent history and age suggests he won't. Week 1 suggests the wider alignment is just what the doctor ordered. Young's return allows you to find out which is the truth without falling off the cliff it's the former.
The longer Young is out the more we'll know. It just doesn't feel like that's the best bet for the Saints. Young returning to the lineup is certainly best for the Saints pass rush, and it may maximize Jordan's effectiveness by putting less snaps on his body.