Edge rusher Chase Young prepared to wreak havoc for New Orleans Saints

For his first time as a Saint, Young enters the season healthy and ready for Detroit

Sep 09, 2026 at 06:33 PM

Senior Writer

Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints joint practice with the Los Angeles Rams during 2026 Training Camp presented by Rouses Markets at Rams Village at Warner Center in Woodland Hills, California, on Thursday, August 20.

Chase Young isn't into sharing trade secrets when it comes to discussing the impressive physical condition he has manufactured, including a jet-fueled burst off the end, an uncanny ability to stay low — despite standing 6-foot-5 — and an elastic bend around the end that likely is the envy of edge rushers across the NFL.

"I'll give you my trainer's number," he said, laughing.

Just know that he very much appears to be where he wants to be, and that's at the peak of his powers. And that's a good place for him to be with the New Orleans Saints, because for Young's first time as a Saint, he is poised to enter the season totally healthy and in the starting lineup when New Orleans faces the Lions on Sunday at Ford Field in Detroit.

In 2024, his first season with New Orleans, he didn't miss a game but was unable to have a full offseason regimen to prepare due to his recovery from neck surgery. And last year he injured a calf in practice prior to Week 1 and missed the first five games; he still totaled a career high 10 sacks in 12 games.

"Staying on the body, grinding," Young economically replied as the reason.

"It's a lot. Got to gate-keep some of it. I do a lot. I'm blessed to be here, just trying to keep the body right."

When he was right last season, he produced his best statistical year. In addition to the 10 sacks, he totaled three fumble recoveries (tied for his best in a season), scored on a fumble return for the second time, had four passes defensed (tied career high), had a career high 11 tackles for loss and added 15 quarterback hits, tied for his second-most in a season.

The production was a springboard into his work this offseason, which was impressive enough to be named one of the Saints' team captains for the first time.

"It means everything to get chosen by your peers," Young said. "Peer respect, I feel like, is the ultimate respect."

"He has done a great job through the whole offseason of really being a natural leader — how he acts, how he prepares, how he plays," Saints coach Kellen Moore said. "He's just done an excellent job and certainly you can see the appreciation his teammates have shown towards him."

There's an appreciation reciprocity for Young toward his teammates, with whom he looks forward to entering the opener to face a talented Lions offense.

"Physical, they pay attention to detail," Young said. "They execute — I think the last couple of seasons they've been a top five offense in the league. I know they execute, so we're just gonna have to execute better."

That's how the Saints finished last season, winning five of their final nine games. New Orleans was ninth overall in yards allowed (299.8 per game), but gave up 246.3 in the last three. And it was 14^th in points allowed (22.5), but held the final three opponents to 17 points per game.

Continuing that has been the plan through an offseason of working together.

"We've been staying at it," Young said. "It feels good, it feels like we're at a good spot. We trust each other going into year two in this defense."

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Full coverage of the New Orleans Saints practice on Wednesday, September 9, 2026 at the Ochsner Sports Performance Center ahead of the 2026 NFL season.