Those steps might not seem like much, but they could be pretty significant for New Orleans Saints defensive end Chase Young as they likely signal his recovery from offseason neck surgery is going well.
“I'm back training, I'm lifting weights and everything,” Young said. “I'm back at that stage.”
Coach Dennis Allen has already said Young, who took part in walk-through workouts during the offseason, will not practice until training camp begins on July 24 in Irvine, California.
And the Saints will likely take a cautious approach with Young, an unrestricted free agent who signed a one-year deal with New Orleans, but for now, at least Young is doing well.
“I feel good,” he said. “I ran 10 (50-yard dashes), I'm getting in shape, I'm in the weight room, I'm getting strong again, so I'm ready to go.”
The Saints are counting on that.
Young was named NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year with Washington in 2020 after finishing with 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, 12 quarterback hits and 10 tackles for loss. He missed the next two seasons with a torn anterior cruciate ligament and patellar tendon in his right knee but played in 16 games with Washington and San Francisco last season, totaling 7.5 sacks and 15 quarterback hits.
New Orleans is adamant Young will play with a “I want to prove myself” mentality, but that's still a long way off. For now, Young is fitting in with the Saints on and off the field, and he's been helped along by the addition of several former Ohio State stars to the roster (cornerback Marshon Lattimore, receiver Chris Olave and linebacker Pete Warner).
“Right now I'm just taking it one day at a time, following my playbook closely and being ready when my turn comes,” he said. “It's been really nice. I've been able to stay in touch with the guys and get to know a lot of the guys already. A lot of the (Ohio State) guys are here already so it's been really nice.”
“I love it here. The only thing I've had to get used to is the heat, but it's really cool. I have great teammates, everyone has been so welcoming, so it's been a great experience.”
Playing on a line he believes has the best talent and being able to talk to Cam Jordan, the franchise's all-time leader in sacks, made the experience even more enriching.
“We're definitely well-rounded (defensively), and I think we have a lot of great things going for us,” Young said. “If we work together, I think the possibilities are endless.”
“I went to Cam and asked him about certain things, how he sees the offense, how he sees the formations the whole time he's been in the league, how he picks up those little pre-snap reads and stuff like that.”
“On paper, we feel like we have one of the most talented defenses in the league.”
