The most notable thing about Tuesday’s roster shuffle wasn’t who was moved off or who was added to the practice squad, but that there was a spot on the active roster that was opened up in the process.
And now we know who is getting the call:
#Bears roster move:
TE Jesper Horsted has been promoted from the practice squad to the active roster.— Chicago Bears (@BearsPR) November 20, 2019
Hey, we wanted change … right?
Tight end Jesper Horsted was promoted to the active roster, which is now at capacity.
With Trey Burton going on injured reserve last week, the Bears were in need of a “move” tight end for the offense. So even though Horsted is a developing player as far as being a complete package at the position, his past as a wide receiver makes him an ideal candidate to fill in the responsibilities of a traditional “U” tight end. Now, Horsted is set to take the next step in what has been a pretty wild ride to this point.
Horsted was a mini-camp tryout invite who signed onto the roster in early May, where his transformation from Princeton wide receiver to tight end prospect began. And while the Ivy League isn’t known for churning out NFL stars, Horsted’s production (and potential) was good enough to ultimately merit a spot on the Bears’ practice squad. Horsted was the Ivy League’s Offensive Player of the Year as a senior when he caught 72 passes, picked up 1,047 receiving yards, and scored 13 touchdowns. It capped a stellar career at Princeton, one that left with him setting school records for receptions (196) and touchdown catches (28) during his time in school. Not bad for a nerd.
When Horsted got a chance to show out at the end of the preseason, he did just that (which is encouraging to an extent, but it’s still the preseason after all). Horsted garnered some considerable late-summer buzz by catching eight passes for 121 yards, and two touchdowns in the final two games of the exhibition season. It wasn’t enough to land a spot on the season-opening 53-man roster, but it put him on our radars as someone who could come up in a pinch if necessary at some point later in the season. As it turns out, that time has come.