During the New Orleans Saints’ required minicamp, it was rumoured that Juwan Johnson, the team’s best tight end, will have foot surgery. Johnson is likely to be out for a long, but the hope and assumption is that he will not miss any games during the regular season. Johnson now has time to recover since the squad is on break until training camp begins in late July.
The Saints, on the other hand, appear to be preparing in case Johnson’s absence lasts longer than expected. New Orleans just added veteran tight end Jesper Horsted, providing depth in the team’s tight end room.
The Saints have signed tight end Jesper Horsted, who was undrafted out of Princeton in 2019. He spent the first three seasons of his career with the Chicago Bears before moving on to the Las Vegas Raiders for the final two. He has already played one season with Saints quarterback Derek Carr, although the two did not see much action together during regular season games.
Horsted’s career production has been limited, with only 41 games played. In 2019, he grabbed eight catches for 87 yards and one touchdown. In 2021, he made only two catches for 21 yards, but both were touchdowns. In 2022, he grabbed three receptions for 19 yards, while in 2023, he only caught one for four yards. However, he has proven valuable on special teams, accounting for roughly half or more of his team’s special teams snaps in three of his four active seasons.
If he sticks around and makes the New Orleans roster, he’ll most likely play on special teams. With Juwan Johnson anticipated to return in time for the season, Taysom Hill still contributing, and promising youngster Dallin Holker, Horsted will most likely be a depth player who contributes on special teams.
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