Washington Commanders Risk Early 2022 Hole Without Chase Young

The Washington Commanders need a bounce-back year from their defense to contend in the NFC East in 2022, unfortunately, they may have to start their quest to rebound without one of their cornerstones on that side of the ball.

ESPN’s John Keim wrote earlier this week that it is possible Young, the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year, will start the 2022 season on injured reserve. That would automatically rule Young out for the first four games of the new campaign.

Young tore his ACL in Week 10 of the 2021 season, one in which Washington missed the playoffs with their defense unable to elevate a team forced to play Taylor Heinicke at quarterback into contention for the postseason.

Even before Young’s injury, Washington struggled mightily on defense in 2021. Indeed, between Weeks 1 and 10, Washington ranked 31st on Expected Points Added per play on defense, going on to finish the year 29th in that metric. Washington was slightly better in Football Outsiders DVOA, in which its defense ranked 27th. In weighted DVOA, it was 18th.

No section of the Washington defense came away from 2021 with much credit, but its struggles to create pressure were a huge factor in its failings last season. Washington was 17th in the NFL with a pressure rate of 24.2 percent, according to Pro Football Reference. That was slightly higher than that of the San Francisco 49ers (24.1) and superior to the likes of the Chicago Bears (23.1) and Los Angeles Rams (22.8).

However, the 49ers, Rams and Bears all did a much better job of converting their pressures. The Niners finished the season with 48 sacks while the Bears registered 49 and the Rams 50. Washington, by contrast, ended the year with 38.

Pass-rush production is not solely about sack numbers but the reality is that—with Washington’s pressure and sack rates both in the bottom half of the league—the defensive front simply did not do enough to pressure the quarterback in 2021.

The Commanders retain the talent to change that even if Young is on the sidelines for the first four games in 2022. Montez Sweat has 21 sacks in three seasons off the edge while on the interior, Washington added second-round pick Phidarian Mathis to an already deep interior group led by Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne.

But, when Washington made the playoffs two seasons ago, it was clear Young was the engine. Playing without him for the opening four games—which come against teams in the Jacksonville Jaguars, Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys who all have talent on the offensive line—risks quickly putting the Commanders behind the 8-ball in 2022.

Washington may hope the changes on offense, including the trade for Carson Wentz and the selection of Jahan Dotson in the first round, will allow the offense to minimize the impact of any defensive struggles.

Yet, with the consistently unreliable Wentz at quarterback and Young potentially absent for a key opening stretch of winnable games, the Commanders could find themselves in a hole they do not have the talent to climb out of.