The San Francisco 49ers may be in a rut with a three-game losing streak, but they may now feel a bit revitalized after trading for defensive end Chase Young last week.
Young was acquired from the Washington Commanders right before the trade deadline, and while he has been playing well, the team reportedly felt he was not sticking to the fundamentals or its defensive scheme.
At a press conference, Young said that there’s a different spirit within the 49ers organization where, as he put it, one is “expected to win,” which may have also been a subtle burn of the Commanders, via 49ers on NBCS.
It has been decades since the Commanders have been winners — they last won the Super Bowl during the 1991 season, which also happens to be the last time they advanced past the Divisional round.
The Niners, on the other hand, have been to the NFC Championship Game three times in the last four seasons, and may feel they have a great shot at getting there again this winter, especially now that they have Young.
The former Ohio State University Buckeye has 5.0 sacks, nine quarterback hits, and six tackles for loss in seven games this year, and he will make what was already a very strong front seven for San Francisco even stronger.
The team now has three bona fide pass rushers in Young, Nick Bosa, and Javon Hargrave, not to mention two outstanding linebackers behind them in Dre Greenlaw and All-Pro Fred Warner.
The team will take the field again this Sunday when they visit the red-hot Jacksonville Jaguars, who have won five games in a row.