Jesper Horsted (born February 27, 1997) is an American professional football tight end who is a free agent. He played college football at Princeton.

Jesper Horsted
Personal information
Born: (1997-02-27) February 27, 1997 (age 27)
Roseville, Minnesota, U.S.
Height:6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Weight:237 lb (108 kg)
Career information
High school:Roseville Area
College:Princeton
Position:Tight end
Undrafted:2019
Career history
 * Offseason and/or practice squad member only
Career highlights and awards
Career NFL statistics as of 2023
Receptions:14
Receiving yards:131
Receiving touchdowns:3
Stats at Pro Football Reference

College career

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Horsted played wide receiver for the Princeton Tigers for four seasons. As a junior, he set school records with 92 receptions and 14 receiving touchdowns with 1,226 yards and was named first-team All-Ivy League. He caught 72 passes for 1,047 yards with 13 touchdowns in his senior season and was again named first-team All-Ivy.[1] He finished his collegiate career as the schools all-time leader with 196 receptions and 28 receiving touchdowns and second with 2,703 receiving yards.[2]

Horsted also was a member of the Princeton baseball team. He hit .324 with seven doubles and 14 RBIs in 36 games as a junior and batted .312 in 104 games over three seasons.[3]

Professional career

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Pre-draft measurables
Height Weight Arm length Hand span 40-yard dash 10-yard split 20-yard split Vertical jump Broad jump Bench press
6 ft 3+34 in
(1.92 m)
229 lb
(104 kg)
32+18 in
(0.82 m)
9+78 in
(0.25 m)
4.77 s 1.68 s 2.63 s 32.0 in
(0.81 m)
9 ft 10 in
(3.00 m)
14 reps
All values from Pro Day[4]

Chicago Bears

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2019

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Horsted signed with the Chicago Bears as an undrafted free agent on May 13, 2019.[5] He was cut at the end of training camp, but was re-signed to the Bears' practice squad on September 1.[6] Horsted was promoted to the Bears active roster on November 20.[7] He made his NFL debut on November 24 against the New York Giants, catching one pass for four yards.[8] Four days later against the Detroit Lions, he was named starting tight end as injuries plagued his teammates. In the third quarter, he scored his first NFL touchdown on an 18-yard reception from quarterback Mitchell Trubisky; the score tied the game at 17-all, and the Bears went on to win 24–20.[9] Horsted finished his rookie season with eight receptions for 87 yards and a touchdown in six games played with one start.[10]

2020

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Horsted was among the final roster cuts on September 5, 2020, and was placed on the practice squad a day later.[11][12] On January 11, 2021, Horsted signed a reserve/futures contract with the Bears, after spending the 2020 season on the Bears' practice squad.[13][14]

2021

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On August 28, 2021, Horsted caught three touchdown passes in the Bears' preseason finale against the Tennessee Titans.[15] He secured a spot on the Bears' 53-man roster for the 2021 season.[16] On October 10, Horsted caught a two-yard touchdown from Justin Fields in a game against the Las Vegas Raiders, marking Fields’ first career passing touchdown in the NFL.[17] He finished the season scoring two touchdowns and making two receptions for 21 yards, in seven games played with zero starts.

2022

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On May 11, 2022, Horsted was waived following a failed physical.[18]

Las Vegas Raiders

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Horsted signed with the Raiders as a free agent on June 7, 2022.[19] He was moved from wide receiver to third-string tight end on the depth chart (originally intended for later-injured Jacob Hollister) after his performance at training camp.[20] Darren Waller and Foster Moreau were first-string and second-string respectively.

Horsted finished the 2022 season with 3 receptions for 19 yards, in 15 games played with zero starts, having participated in 48% of all special teams snaps (190).

2023

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Horsted was re-signed on March 10, 2023.[21] The following August, he remained at third-string tight end.[22] Austin Hooper and rookie Michael Mayer took on first-string and second-string respectively, after Waller and Moreau were no longer with the team. On December 24, Horsted was ruled out with a hamstring injury ahead of a game against division rival Kansas City Chiefs.[23] 3 days later, he was placed on injured reserve.[24]

Horsted finished the 2023 season with one reception for four yards, in 13 games played with zero starts, and participated in 65% of all special teams snaps (216).

New Orleans Saints

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On June 14, 2024, Horsted signed with the New Orleans Saints.[25] He was released on August 3.[26]

Carolina Panthers

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On August 5, 2024, Horsted signed with the Carolina Panthers.[27] He was released on August 27.[28]

References

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  1. ^ Eurich, Matt (May 13, 2019). "Chicago Bears sign tight end Jesper Horsted". 247Sports.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  2. ^ Perez, Bryan (May 13, 2019). "Bears sign Princeton TE Jesper Horsted". Bears Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  3. ^ Franko, Kyle (September 14, 2018). "Princeton's two-sport star Jesper Horsted shines in football and baseball". The Trentonian. Retrieved November 25, 2019.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ "2019 Draft Scout Jesper Horsted, Princeton NFL Draft Scout College Football Profile". draftscout.com. Retrieved November 23, 2022.
  5. ^ Emma, Chris (May 13, 2019). "Bears Sign UDFA TE Jesper Horsted". 670TheScore.Radio.com. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  6. ^ Barbieri, Alyssa (September 1, 2019). "Chicago Bears set initial 2019 practice squad". Bears Wire. USA Today. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  7. ^ Ellis, Cam (November 20, 2019). "With six weeks left, rookie tight end Jesper Horsted will now get the extended tryout he's been waiting for". NBC Sports Chicago. Retrieved November 24, 2019.
  8. ^ "Bears' Jesper Horsted: Makes career debut". CBSSports.com. RotoWire. November 24, 2019. Retrieved November 25, 2019.
  9. ^ Lieser, Jason (November 28, 2019). "New Bears TE Jesper Horsted gets national spotlight with touchdown vs. Lions". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved November 28, 2019.
  10. ^ Pearson, Zack (January 2, 2020). "Bears Position Review 2019: TE was a disappointment". 247Sports.com. Retrieved January 10, 2020.
  11. ^ Infante, Jacob (September 5, 2020). "Bears waive cornerback Kevin Toliver II, tight end Jesper Horsted". Windy City Gridiron. SB Nation. Retrieved September 5, 2020.
  12. ^ Mayer, Larry (September 6, 2020). "Roster Moves: Bears sign 16 to practice squad". Chicago Bears. Retrieved September 6, 2020.
  13. ^ Mayer, Larry (January 11, 2021). "Roster Moves: Bears sign 10 to reserve/future deals". ChicagoBears.com. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
  14. ^ Mayer, Larry (August 28, 2021). "Quick Hits: Horsted shines in preseason finale". Chicago Bears. Retrieved September 10, 2021.[permanent dead link]
  15. ^ Wiederer, Dan (August 29, 2021). "Chicago Bears tight end Jesper Horsted caps his preseason with 3 touchdowns — including a highlight dart from Justin Fields. Will it be enough to make the team?". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  16. ^ Lieser, Jason (August 31, 2021). "Breaking down Bears' 53-man roster after final cuts". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved September 10, 2021.
  17. ^ Barbier, Alyssa (October 10, 2021). "Justin Fields' first NFL passing touchdown goes to Jesper Horsted". Bears Wire. -USA Today. Retrieved January 22, 2024.
  18. ^ "Roster Moves: Bears add TE Rysen John, waive TE Jesper Horsted". ChicagoBears.com. May 11, 2022. Retrieved January 21, 2024.
  19. ^ "Raiders sign TE Jesper Horsted". Raiders.com. June 7, 2022. Retrieved June 7, 2022.
  20. ^ Aspuria, Ray (September 3, 2022). "Raiders Roster 2022: Jesper Horsted caught on quick". Silver And Black Pride.
  21. ^ "Raiders re-sign T Brandon Parker and TE Jesper Horsted". Las Vegas Raiders. March 10, 2023.
  22. ^ "Raiders' first unofficial depth chart of 2023". Las Vegas Raiders. August 8, 2023.
  23. ^ "Raiders-Chiefs Week 16 Injury Report: Michael Mayer, Jesper Horstead ruled out, Josh Jacobs among 6 questionable to play". Las Vegas Raiders. December 24, 2023.
  24. ^ "Raiders sign TE Zach Gentry". Las Vegas Raiders. December 27, 2023.
  25. ^ "New Orleans Saints sign TE Jesper Horsted, waive WR Kyle Sheets". NewOrleansSaints.com. Retrieved June 15, 2024.
  26. ^ "New Orleans Saints announce roster moves". NewOrleansSaints.com. August 3, 2024.
  27. ^ "Panthers add another tight end on Monday". Panthers.com. August 5, 2024.
  28. ^ Gantt, Darin (August 27, 2024). "Panthers make moves to get to initial 53-man roster". Panthers.com.
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