Source: Saints DE Young to have neck procedure

NEW ORLEANS — Saints defensive end Chase Young is expected to miss part of training camp after undergoing a neck procedure, a source told ESPN’s Adam Schefter on Tuesday.

Young signed a one-year deal worth a guaranteed $13 million following his visit with the Saints on Monday. The Saints were among the teams aware of the neck issue and felt comfortable moving ahead with the signing, a source told Schefter.

Young missed the Washington Commanders‘ season opener last season because of a neck stinger sustained in the first preseason game. While Young was initially expected to delay his return until Week 3, he played the next week and did not miss another game in 2023.

He had five sacks for the Commanders before he was traded to the San Francisco 49ers after Week 8. He finished the season with 7.5 combined sacks and also had a sack in Super Bowl LVIII.

The Commanders selected Young with the second pick of the 2020 draft out of Ohio State. Young had 7.5 sacks during his rookie season but played in only 12 games from 2021 to 2022 after tearing his right ACL and rupturing a patellar tendon in 2021.

Young is not the only Saints player not expected to be ready for training camp at this time. Linebacker Nephi Sewell, who tore his ACL last fall, is also expected to miss time, Saints coach Dennis Allen said at the NFL scouting combine in February.