Former Kentucky OT Landon Young suffers season-ending foot injury

Landon Young’s big break in the NFL apparently came with a big break.

The former Kentucky offensive tackle started in his first game Sunday against the Eagles. Halfway through his first start at left tackle, he suffered a season-ending foot injury. Despite the circumstances, Tom Pelissero reports Young still played most of the game through the injury.

Another #Saints O-line injury: Rookie Landon Young is expected to undergo season-ending foot surgery, source said.

Young made his first NFL start Sunday at left tackle and somehow played over a half *after* the injury. Tough dude and did well under the circumstances.

— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 23, 2021

Young is the latest former Wildcat bit by the NFL injury bug. Another rookie who played his way into the New York Jets’ starting rotation, Brandin Echols, was sent to the IR last week with a thigh injury. Bud Dupree has battled lingering injury issues as he recovers from an ACL injury in 2020. Kelvin Joseph was not activated to the active roster from IR until Halloween, while Lynn Bowden was relegated to the IR for the entire season before it ever kicked off.

Despite the setback, Mark Stoops still believes Young has a bright future in the NFL.

“I’m so proud of him, I knew he would play in the NFL for a very long time, no matter where he was drafted, no matter what round. I think the Saints were very smart with drafting him where they did,” Stoops said during Monday’s press conference. “We’re proud of him. It doesn’t surprise me. I feel like he is a guy who will play in the NFL a long time.”

It’s an unfortunate early setback for Young. Hopefully it is just a minor bump in the road for one of the Big Blue Nation’s best.