Everybody loves an underdog. That is why it can be so deflating this time of year for young football players. They work so hard and the fact is many of them just won’t be able to live out their dream of playing on an actual NFL roster. It’s hard for coaches and general managers too. Not every cut they make is easy. Far from it. The Chicago Bears had plenty of difficult decisions following the end of the preseason. One of them was what to do regarding Jesper Horsted.
This kid is such a cool story. A star wide receiver at Princeton in college, he switched to tight end when he joined the Bears in 2019. He had a great preseason that year but not quite enough to crack the main roster. He stayed trapped on the practice squad throughout 2020. When 2021 rolled around, it no doubt felt to him like this might be his last chance to do something. Especially after the team signed veteran Jesse James who immediately played well for them in training camp.
It was a tense August for Horsted.
He was practicing well but he still hadn’t been able to transfer it into game action. Going into the finale against the Titans, it was do-or-die. Horsted chose to do. He went off for an epic evening, topping 100 yards receiving with three touchdowns including a terrific one-handed stab for a 53-yard score. That performance was a reminder of how good he can be in the receiving game. The question is was it enough to sway the team into keeping him.
He finally got his answer on August 31st. In episode 3 of 1920 Football Drive, the Bears’ popular YouTube series detailing training camp and the preseason, they provided an inside look at what happened. GM Ryan Pace and head coach Matt Nagy brought Horsted in for the final meeting. Pace expressed clear admiration for how much the tight end improved. It was then, with a huge grin on his face, he told Horsted he’d made the team.
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Jesper Horsted deserves a role in the Bears offense
While he may not be the ideal blocker as tight ends go, nobody can deny his receiving prowess. People forget he’s already proven he can make plays in actual NFL games. His huge catch against Detroit on Thanksgiving in 2019 is a good reminder. His mixture of hands, body control, and solid speed for his size should be enough to convince the coaches he is more than just an emergency backup.
In the right situations? He is a genuine threat in the passing game. It comes down to how much the Bears are committed to still making Jimmy Graham a focal point in the offense. Cole Kmet will be the featured guy. That isn’t going to change. It is a matter of whether Horsted can be slotted into certain situations.
Here is hoping they do.
While making the roster alone is a great story for him. Being able to contribute and possibly ascend even further would be even better. Graham won’t be around much longer. It would be nice if the Bears had not one but two young tight ends they can bank on moving forward.
