The Detroit Lions will face a solid list of good pass rushers this year, but it seems like they’ll “miss” facing Chase Young in Week 2.
During his Defensive Rookie of the Year campaign in 2020, the Detroit Lions faced Washington defensive end Chase Young and held him without a sack in a 30-27 victory. A rematch is looming for Week 2 this season..
Young suffered a torn ACL in Week 10 last season last season, which has naturally cast his status for the early part of this season into doubt. He was unsurprisingly placed on the PUP list as the Commanders opened training camp.
Commanders head coach Ron Rivera was a guest in 106.7 The Fan Friday morning. Young was naturally a topic that came up. The coach acknowledged the No. 2 pick in the 2020 draft will miss some time to start the season, and he could start on IR or the PUP list.
Ron Rivera tells @JunksRadio he expects Chase Young (ACL) to miss "a little bit of time" when the regular season begins.
— Ben Standig (@BenStandig) July 29, 2022
Via Ben Standig of the Athletic (subscription required), Rivera a little more firmly said Young will miss at least Week 1.
"Going into the season, yes. He will not play the first game,” Rivera said, per The Athletic. “I’m going to put it that way. I’m not going to say he’s going to start on PUP. He will not be ready for the first game.”"
Detroit Lions seem likely to “miss” facing Chase Young in Week 2
The Commanders will travel to Detroit to play the Lions in Week 2. If Young is on the PUP list into the season, or placed on IR, he’ll miss at least the first four games.
The Lions legitimately have one of the better tackle tandems in the league in Taylor Decker and Penei Sewell, and one of the best offensive lines in the league as a whole. The Washington defensive line is pretty loaded with or without Young, so they’ll be a challenge for the Detroit line no matter what.
But the strong possibility one of the best young pass rushers in the league will miss the Week 2 game is a nice break for the Lions, and any predictions Detroit will win that game would be further fortified if Young is out.