Commanders to sign NFC South safety

Chinn had a vastly different 2023 season compared to his first three seasons in the league. He missed five games due to a quad injury, avoiding surgery and a longer absence. Most notably, his usage transformed. Namely, he was used much more sparingly under defensive coordinator Ejiro Evero.

During Chinn’s first three seasons, he was practically on the field 100 percent of the time. However, in 2023, he had no games where he played over 80 percent of the defensive snaps. Similarly, he only played 70 percent of defensive snaps twice.

After being drafted in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, Chinn hit the ground running. During his rookie campaign, he recorded 117 tackles and forced three turnovers. His performance led to a runner-up finish in the 2020 Defensive Rookie of the Year battle, finishing behind only Chase Young.

Chinn followed his rookie season with a similarly impressive sophomore year. In 2021, he recorded 107 total sacks and two turnovers. He also contributed via five passes defended and six tackles for loss. Unfortunately, that would be the last time he played the full season.

During the 2022 season, Chinn did not play in six games due to a hamstring strain. Despite missing time, he continued to contribute to the defense at a similar rate, averaging seven tackles per game. While a slight decline from his first two seasons, he remained an every-down staple when healthy.

This past year was seemingly an anomaly for Chinn. He played the fewest snaps of his NFL career, regardless of injury status. While the safety room in Carolina was crowded, they dealt with many injuries, which should have provided Chinn plenty of opportunities. Regardless, with Jeremy Chinn’s new contract, his playing time will be something to watch closely.