The wait is over: Chase Young will make his season debut in Week 6 when the Saints host the Patriots.
The Saints signed Young to a 3-year, $51 million extension in the offseason, and he had looked primed for a big season in a new defensive scheme, often dominating throughout training camp. Then came the first practice ahead of the regular season and a nagging calf injury that sideline the star pass-rusher for the next 14 practices.
Head coach Kellen Moore maintained that Young was working diligently behind the scenes and the team was eager for his return. That finally happened this week, with Young getting in limited practices on Wednesday and Thursday before being upgraded to a full participant on Friday. He does not carry an injury designation into the weekend, indicating that he is expected to play.
"Chase has just done so much. You're so happy to see him back on the field. He deserves it. He's earned it,” Moore said. "Nothing has been easy on this path for him. He's had an excellent week of practice. He's done an excellent job and certainly there'll be some juice and excitement for him to just get out there, and I think it'll bring all the other guys a little more juice as well.”
Neither Moore nor defensive coordinator Brandon Staley would tip their hand on what an edge rusher rotation would look like, though Moore did indicate that Young likely wouldn’t be on any kind of a pitch count. The long absence and work in the background was geared toward making sure that when he did return, he’d be a full go, and that’s what Saints fans can anticipate to see.
"We'll keep an eye on it,” Moore said, "but he's done a ton of work, so he should be in a good place just to go.”
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Young’s absence has made for a significant workload for veterans Carl Granderson, Cam Jordan and Chris Rumph, while rookie Fadil Diggs has seen action through mutliple elevations from the practice squad. That group has been effective at getting quarterbacks to the ground with their 12 total sacks tied for 14th in the NFL, but they’ve been inconsistent at affecting opposing QBs overall, with their 25.4% pressure rate on dropbacks tied for 30th in the NFL.
“Any time you add someone like a Chase Young, it’s going to add a ton of production to your unit,” Staley said, "and it’s going to help everybody do their job better in the front, too, so I look forward to having him out there.”
Young’s return is just one element of what has been a very positive week from a health standpoint for the Saints. CB Isaac Yiadom (hamstring) is the only player to be ruled out, while Alvin Kamara (ankle) is questionable. The veteran RB classified his injury as minor and said he expects to play. The only other player listed as questionable is John Ridgeway, who has been a full participant in practice but has not been activated from IR to this point.
Here’s how the full injury report broke down for the Saints on Friday:
LP = limited participation; FP = full participation; DNP = did not participate
- CB Isaac Yiadom (hamstring): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- TE Juwan Johnson (ankle): LP | LP | FP
- RB Alvin Kamara (ankle): LP | LP | LP - questionable
- LG Trevor Penning (ankle): LP | FP | FP
- S Justin Reid (concussion): LP | FP | FP
- RG Cesar Ruiz (ankle): LP | FP | FP
- DE Chase Young (calf): LP | LP | FP
- OL Dillon Radunz (toe): FP | FP | FP
- DT John Ridgeway (shoulder): FP | FP | FP - questionable
- DT Davon Godchaux (rest): n/a | DNP | FP
TE Juwan Johnson (ankle) was also upgraded to full, while RG Cesar Ruiz (ankle) and S Justin Reid (concussion) practiced fully for the final two days of the week. Ruiz missed Week 5 due to his injury, while Reid left after the first defensive series due to a concussion. The Saints appear set to have their starting offensive line back intact for the second time this season. The Saints offense rushed for 118 yards in the first half against the Bills, with Ruiz leaving late in the second quarter due to his injury.
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The Patriots’ side of the injury report is much more extensive, with four players ruled out and three listed as questionable.
- RB Antonio Gibson (knee): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- S Jaylinn Hawkins (hamstring): DNP | DNP | DNP 0 out
- DE Keion White (elbow): DNP | DNP | DNP - out
- DT Christian Barmore (NIR-other): LP | FP | FP
- LB K’Lavon Chaisson (knee): LP | LP | FP
- DT Joshua Farmer (ankle): LP | LP | FP
- LB Anfernee Jennins (ankle) LP | DNP | DNP - out
- DT Milton Williams (ankle): LP | LP | FP
- LB Marte Mapu (neck/hamstring): FP | LP | LP - questionable
- G Mike Onwenu (shoulder/thigh): FP | FP | FP
- CB Christian Gonzalez (hamstring): n/a | LP | LP - questionable
- CB Charles Woods (knee): n/a | n/a | LP - questionable
The Saints (1-4) host the Patriots (2-3) at noon Sunday inside the Caesars Superdome. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.