Chase Young is down and out -- perhaps for the rest of the season.
The Washington Football Team's star defensive end is feared to have torn his ACL in the second quarter of Sunday's game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported. Coach Ron Rivera confirmed Young potentially suffered an ACL injury. The second-year lineman's right knee appeared to buckle while coming off the edge in pursuit of Tom Brady.
A cart was initially called to the field, but Young opted to limp off under his own power. He was ruled out soon after. Rapoport reported the team is awaiting a full battery of tests to confirm the diagnosis, which Rivera said will be known Monday.
Young returned to the sideline in the second half on crutches, as Washington pulled off a 29-19 upset.
His exit transpired amid WFT's defense putting together one of its best games of the season. The unit picked off Brady twice while holding the Bucs to just 273 yards of total offense. Tampa Bay's 19 points tied its season low.
Young proved to be one of the more promising pass rushers in the league last year, compiling 7.5 sacks, 10 tackles for loss and four forced fumbles while earning Defensive Rookie of the Year honors. He's had a modest first half to his second season, tallying 1.5 sacks and three tackles for loss. An extended absence, however, would be a notable blow for a Washington defense that has appeared to turn a corner in recent weeks but is already without defensive end Montez Sweat, who's on injured reserve with a jaw injury.
