Heading into the 2026 season, tight ends were expected to be a big part of the offense. However, in their last loss, top TE Juwan Johnson was barely involved after being targeted only three times. This is not a one-time drop-off; Johnson has actually vanished from the offense, with only five catches on 10 targets for 23 yards since week five.
Johnson is coming off a career year, which saw him catch 75.5% of his 102 targets for 889 yards and three touchdowns. To start this season, he did more than keep up the pace; he was on track for another career year with 21 catches for 232 yards and three touchdowns through the first four games. However, then came the week five drop-off, and Johnson hasn't really been seen since.
Against the Vikings (week five), Johnson only had four catches for 16 yards, which was the first sign of a slide. He had an even worse performance the next week (week six), where he had his first catchless game since week three of the 2024 season. Perhaps due to him being targeted about 50% less than he was to start out the year, averging seven targets a game to now only averging three, Johnson has been ignored for weeks.
Saints just flat out stopped using Juwan Johnson but there's no explanation why
Even more startling is Johnson's drop in routes run. Starting out with 69.6% over the first five games, it's dropped to 56.2% over the last two. He's uninvolved, running only 17 routes on 42 snaps in week six, and hasn't seen anything downfield in what feels like forever.
The game script could be a factor in his lack of targets; however, the Saints have only been in a non-passing situation once this season, when they led the Gaints 27-10 after three quarters. But that still doesn't explain how Johnson can barely be seen with the naked eye nowadays.
Competition could be another, as Johnson isn't the only tight end the Saints have; they also signed Noah Fant in free agency and drafted Oscar Delp in the third round last April. However, neither of them has put up impressive numbers either, and Johnson is still clearly the TE1 in New Orleans.
Thankfully for Johnson, the Saints are at a bit of a reset point in the bye week. Throughout this week and next, the coaches will need to solve this missing persons case, because without him the offense is down a weapon. When the Browns come to town on Nov. 8, hopefully Johnson reappears.
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