Tell this to a 54yo fella I know who's a powerlifter, and has been doing that for the last 30+ years. Not a single injury and his poundages are still insane. I've been quatting for the last 10+ years, never go insane weights, just merely below my max effort, good to go, a great overall exercise.
BTW - goos luck at achieving "dat ass" without squats. Sometimes I see guys with good quads, but flat pancake butt.. not a good look.