Defensive end Chase Young, newly signed to a one-year, $13 million deal with the New Orleans Saints, will undergo neck surgery on Thursday, Sports Illustrated reported.
Recovery time is three to five months, which would make Young available for the start of the 2024 season, if he stays on schedule.
The Saints were aware of the issue, which is believed to stem from a stinger suffered in the 2023 preseason, and structured his contract accordingly, per the report.
Young is guaranteed to earn his $13 million in the event of a release. However, he will earn just over $5 million in base pay with a roster bonus of $470,000 per game, multiple outlets reported.
If he is active for all 17 games next season, he’d earn the additional $7.99 million on his contract.
The No. 2 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft by Washington, Young was dealt by the Commanders to the 49ers in exchange for a third-round draft pick last October. He played nine regular-season games for San Francisco, recording 10 tackles and 2.5 sacks. Young added 11 tackles in the 49ers’ playoff run, including a sack in the Super Bowl.
Young, 24, was the Defensive Rookie of the Year in 2020 after registering 44 tackles, 7.5 sacks, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries in 15 games.
Still, his neck injury made it difficult to find a team willing to take the risk, per Sports Illustrated.
A torn right anterior cruciate ligament limited him to nine games in 2021 and three games in 2022. He bounced back to appear in seven games and start six times for Washington last year, producing 15 tackles and five sacks in those contests.
In 43 career NFL games (32 starts), Young has 100 tackles, 16.5 sacks, six forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries.
