Tight end Juwan Johnson was on the field Tuesday evening for the first time since his offseason foot injury sidelined him as the New Orleans Saints held their open practice at Yulman Stadium.
"It's been good to finally get back, I don't think I was meant to practice in California," Johnson said after the open practice. "I think it was just meant for me to come here, show the fans a little something. It's good to be back, run around, catch the ball. It's truly been a lot, but we're here now."
After being diagnosed with a fractured foot in mid-June, the fifth-year veteran missed mini-camp and the first four weeks of Saints training camp while rehabbing.
Johnson returned to the field ahead of schedule as initial reports stated Johnson would be available for the season opener against the Panthers on Sept. 8. Johnson attributed his mental approach to his quick return.
"I already knew that once I got the surgery I was going to be back faster than anticipated. If you give me 13 weeks, I'm going to be back in eight," the 6-foot-4, 231-pounder said. "If you gave me eight weeks, I'm going to be back in four and I think that's mostly a mind-set thing. Some people take the day, like this is when I'm going to be back but I always push the envelope. Think it's more of a mental thing than anything physical, when you believe you can do something you're going to be able to do it."
Johnson said he unknowingly worked out most of OTAs with the foot fracture and that surgery was the fastest and safest way to address the injury in time for the regular season.
"He was back out here today, I think we'll slowly but surely start to ramp him up," Coach Dennis Allen said after practice. "We need some of these guys that we're counting on in the passing game so that we can really start to get the timing and the rhythm in the passing game, that I think we're not quite where we need to be at right now."
Johnson said the injury allowed him time to sit back and really look at the new offense under offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak.
"(Klint) did a good job quizzing me on whatever I needed to be quizzed on," Johnson said. "Everything has been good, knowing the receiving role, tight end role, learning the fullback role, just knowing the whole concept of the offense."
The former Penn State and Oregon wide receiver joined the Saints in 2020 following the NFL Draft and transitioned to tight end in his second season. In 2023, Johnson appeared in 13 games with 11 starts, finishing with 37 receptions for 359 yards and four touchdowns.
While Johnson worked to get back on the field with his teammates for the 2024 season, quarterback Derek Carr was always there to check in on him. Johnson said it was a credit to their friendship and the person that Carr is.
"When you're out there in California in a different spot, different area, not there with your family, when you're out there not practicing, you kind of find yourself in honestly a dark place," Johnson said. "I think Derek helped me out quite a bit, just spiritually through all of it because it's not easy. You feel like you're behind but you also want to know that you're still 'that guy' as well. And I know I'm 'that guy.' A lot of times you're sitting back, you have those questions, like 'oh can I still do this, can I do that?' but I have a rap sheet, I have a whole cut up on my camera roll of stuff that I look at, all the good stuff that I did."
That album in Johnson's camera roll is titled 'I'm Him' and contains about 200 clips of game and practice reps.
Johnson said no one has higher expectations for him than he does and the tight end can't wait to add some more highlights to the album.
"I don't like people to forget that I'm still 'that guy.'"
