Chase Young just committed a crime. pic.twitter.com/zCCEaa5RZ1
— 𝙺𝚎𝚟𝚒𝚗.𝚓𝚊𝚟𝚊 (@KevinWashJr) September 8, 2024
Welcome to the NFL, rookie. That’s the message Carolina Panthers tight end Ja’Tavion Sanders took away from Chase Young bulldozing him in the New Orleans Saints’ dominant Week 1 win.
“Honestly, we had a run play and Chase Young just ran straight through my face,” Sanders groaned, wincing with a self-deprecating smile on Monday. “That was my real wakeup call to the NFL. Just knowing that you can’t outmuscle every guy, that these are all grown-(expletive) men and they all strong as hell.”
When asked what went through his mind after Young made him eat turf, Sanders shook his head and replied, “I’m not letting that (expletive) happen again.”
Don’t let Young’s empty box score fool you. The veteran defensive end wasn’t credited with a sack or even a tackle, but he made a consistent impact in this game by drawing double teams, pressuring Bryce Young, and throwing guys like Sanders off the line of scrimmage. Pro Football Focus charting found Young generated five pressures in this game with a 23.1% win rate on passing downs. That win rate ranked fifth-best among qualifying defensive ends around the league (25 or more pass rush snaps).
If that doesn’t convince you Young was a big player for the Saints in this game, just ask his opponents. Sanders has the bruises to prove it.
