Jesper Horsted was a fascinating story last year. A record-breaking wide receiver at Princeton, he signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on one condition. That he would switch positions to tight end. This is not an uncommon occurrence if the player has the right body type. While not overly big for a tight end, he had a similar skill set to what Trey Burton offered. So it was worth a look.
Starting 2019 on the practice squad, injuries soon saw Horsted elevated to the main roster. After not seeing much action initially, his moment arrived on Thanksgiving afternoon in Detroit. There he made a memorable 18-yard catch for a touchdown. A play that helped the Bears tie the game in the second half and eventually go on to win. A week later he had four catches for 36 yards in a win over Dallas.
It became clear the young man could be a factor in the passing game. A trait that hasn’t disappeared in his second training camp according to Bears color analyst Tom Thayer.
“You go there and you look at Jesper Horsted. He’s made some unbelievable catches in this preseason so far. In the red zone, he’s excited the group. He’s got great reaction to the flight of the football. When you talk about having a grocery store full of tight ends, he’s just a unique body style.”
Jesper Horsted could be hard to turn away
Is it possible for a position to go from a weakness to a strength in one off-season? Yes, but a lot of luck and savvy maneuvering is needed. Early indications are the Bears threaded that needle. They secured longtime veteran Jimmy Graham who is tearing up practices already. Rookie 2nd round pick Cole Kmet is receiving universal praise. Demetrius Harris, their other notable addition has also looked solid.
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Suddenly a guy like Horsted who was thrust into a starting role way too soon can be looked at as depth. This is a great thing for the Bears. Having a player who can run and catch with his prowess as their 4th or 5th tight end on the roster is a big thing. Especially in a year where injuries and COVID-19 could have a dramatic impact on the course of the season.
