Chase Young Presser: “When I put the helmet on, I’m not Chase Young anymore. I turn into something different.”

Chase Young speaks to the media after today’ practice

By Scott Jennings@ScottJenningsHH Aug 31, 2020, 4:30pm EDT

Chase Young was pretty excited to practice at FedEx Field today, but he’s looking forward to earning the opportunity to start during the season opener against the Eagles in less than two weeks. He says he is 97% healed from the hip flexor injury that held him out of training camp for a few practices. Young is very comfortable with Washington’s defensive line, and continues to get advice from veteran Ryan Kerrigan.

And he had the quote of training camp so far: “When I put the helmet on, I’m not Chase Young anymore. I turn into something different.”

(Note: Video was not made available from the team)

Playing at FedEx Field:

.@youngchase907 is home pic.twitter.com/jXfcETRmBu
— Washington Football Team (@WashingtonNFL) August 31, 2020

Today was just a practice, but Young said he was still trying to get his mind right for being in the stadium. Safe to say Young took his first moments in FedExField seriously.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) August 31, 2020

Hip flexor injury:

Chase Young said he feels about "97%" recovered from his hip flexor injury.
— Matthew Paras (@Matthew_Paras) August 31, 2020

No fans in the stadium:

Young said he feels comfortable being in the stadium with no fans. The games might feel different this season, but he feels good being able to be out there.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) August 31, 2020

“Sacking” Dwayne Haskins Jr.:

The defense can't sack quarterbacks during practice, but he wanted to make it clear that he would have gotten to Haskins on a particular play that ended with Haskins completed a pass to Steven Sims.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) August 31, 2020

Starting Week 1:

Young said it would mean a lot for him to start Week 1, especially for his hometown franchise.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) August 31, 2020

Ryan Kerrigan:

Young said that Ryan Kerrigan asks Chase Young the same question every day: "What did I do for my body today?"

Young said one of the biggest things he learned during his first training camp is the importance of taking care of his body.
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) August 31, 2020

Tackling Adrian Peterson:

Chase Young on tackling AP during yesterday's practice: "I know AP wasn't going to stop, so I knew I had to tackle him, and that's what happened."
— Kyle Stackpole (@kylefstackpole) August 31, 2020

Chase Young on his tackle of Adrian Peterson in practice yesterday: pic.twitter.com/HyozQylM7J
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) August 31, 2020

Comfortable with the defensive line:

Young said he feel comfortable being on the field with the defensive line. In a couple of weeks, Young said, he feels like the group can put its best foot forward.
— Zach Selby (@ZachDSelby) August 31, 2020

Game face:

"When I put the helmet on, I'm not Chase Young anymore. I turn into something different." Well that's a badass quote from the No. 2 overall pick
— Pete Hailey (@PeteHaileyNBCS) August 31, 2020