As with the running backs, this was a New Orleans Saints position group that seemed to have a pretty straightforward outlook until a surprise setback during the veteran minicamp.
Juwan Johnson, who led the group last year in offensive snaps and receiving, needed foot surgery recently. The recovery timeline for his injury is a bit of a mystery, with the only clues so far being an ESPN report that suggested the Saints were optimistic he would be ready in time for the start of the regular season.
Though last season was a disappointing one for Johnson statistically, he was still entrenched as the team’s primary receiving tight end going into the minicamp, and he remains one of the more special playmakers within this Saints offense considering his size and speed profile.
Losing Johnson for any portion of training camp (or the regular season) is not ideal. But it does offer the Saints an opportunity to get a look at the rest of their roster and see how those players may fit within new offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak’s scheme.
Current roster
- Juwan Johnson
- Foster Moreau
- Taysom Hill
- Dallin Holker
- Michael Jacobsen
- Tommy Hudson
- Jesper Horsted
Burning question
Is Juwan Johnson’s foot injury a major concern for this offense right now?
It is definitely a concern, but it is probably too early to say it is major — especially if the ESPN report is true and Johnson is not forced to miss any regular season action.
Not having Johnson on the field for some or all of training camp will be a blow, there’s no doubt about that. This is an important season for Johnson, who is in the last year of his contract, and he is trying to find his place within Kubiak’s new offense. On top of that, it would have been helpful for him to continue working on his rapport with quarterback Derek Carr.
The expectations were probably too big last year, but they were understandable: Carr has historically targeted tight ends often, and Johnson enjoyed a monster training camp last summer. It never materialized on the field, however: It took until Week 17 for Johnson to eclipse 50 yards receiving in a game, and he was limited to 20 or more yards in six of the 13 games he played.
Still, it’s easy to envision there being a lot more there. Johnson is a former college receiver who has the athleticism to beat linebackers and the size to beat corners. He should provide favorable matchups when he’s on the field, and it is on the Saints coaching staff to exploit them in ways the last group didn’t.
And if Johnson is unable to go? Or if he needs time to re-acclimate his body to football? It’s not ideal, but the Saints do have some interesting young players who can fill in as needed.
Undrafted rookie Dallin Holker is intriguing. He clearly has NFL receiving ability, which was on display in every phase of this offseason, and he could potentially pick up some of the slack if Johnson is not in the lineup. But he needs to show the staff he can be trusted as a blocker before he’ll get that chance. Michael Jacobsen, who was on the practice squad last year, is in a similar situation as a fluid 6-foot-7 target who is still raw as a blocker.
Former LSU player Foster Moreau figures to play a valuable role as the team’s traditional in-line tight end, but it doesn’t seem likely he’d be a fit to take over snaps as the primary receiving option.
There’s one more player here who has not been mentioned, and we’re getting to him next.
Bold prediction
Taysom Hill will lead all Saints ‘tight ends’ in receiving this year.
Technically, Hill is listed as a quarterback on the Saints roster. During OTAs and minicamp, he moved all over the field, taking snaps at fullback, running back, tight end and slot receiver. So is he a tight end? The Saints answer appears to be, “Why try to fit Taysom in a box?”
All that being said, it does look like Hill is in line for an expanded role within this offense. And what that might really mean is that Hill is going to get a lot more work as a pass-catcher.
Most of Hill’s damage in his career has been as a runner, and for good reason. He was easily the Saints' most effective runner last season, and for his career he is averaging 5.4 yards per carry.
But Hill also set a new career high in receiving last season (33 catches, 291 yards), and for a team that appears willing to take the governor off the 33-year-old, it makes sense to add to his workload through the air, which will take less of a toll on his body.
Is this outcome necessarily likely to happen? Probably not, especially if Johnson doesn’t miss time. But this is the time and space to be bold, and can you imagine what the Saints offense would look like if Hill caught 60 passes this year?