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Julian Blackmon understands how quickly an NFL opportunity can disappear. After a torn labrum interrupted his season last year, the New Orleans Saints' safety said on Monday that he's approaching his return with more appreciation.
“Something that’s given to you can be just as quickly taken away,” Blackmon said. “For me, obviously, my career has been trials and errors, a lot of hardships, but at the same time, a lot of gratitude.”
Blackmon joined the Saints shortly before the beginning of last season and quickly impressed the coaching staff. His opportunity ended after one game when he tore the posterior labrum in his shoulder. It's the same injury that he dealt with in the previous season with the Indianapolis Colts.
When healthy, Blackmon has shown that he can be a productive playmaker in the secondary. From 2022-24, Blackmon started in 42 games with the Colts, totaling 224 combined tackles, eight interceptions, eight tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. His knack for football is a major reason the Saints remained interested in bringing him back despite his limited availability last season.
As for the 2025 injury, the severity wasn't immediately apparent to Blackmon. He said he felt fine while having dinner with his agent after the game. It was not until the following morning that he realized something was wrong.
“It was just hard to hear, especially the anticipation of being back after being hurt the year before,” Blackmon said.
Blackmon said that watching from the sideline changed the way that he saw the game. He said he began putting on his "coach's hat," studying why coaches made specific calls and considering how he could affect each play when he returned to football: “I feel like mentally I’m very locked in, which I’ve got to be. It’s another prove-it year. It's another one-year contract, and it’s another chance for me to get out there and play a full season.”
Blackmon is fully healthy again and firmly in the mix for a significant role in the Saints' secondary. His focus: not taking anything for granted. It's something that he's learned after two frustrating seasons.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Julian Blackmon says football being taken away changed his outlook
Continue reading...
“Something that’s given to you can be just as quickly taken away,” Blackmon said. “For me, obviously, my career has been trials and errors, a lot of hardships, but at the same time, a lot of gratitude.”
Blackmon joined the Saints shortly before the beginning of last season and quickly impressed the coaching staff. His opportunity ended after one game when he tore the posterior labrum in his shoulder. It's the same injury that he dealt with in the previous season with the Indianapolis Colts.
When healthy, Blackmon has shown that he can be a productive playmaker in the secondary. From 2022-24, Blackmon started in 42 games with the Colts, totaling 224 combined tackles, eight interceptions, eight tackles for loss, and 1.5 sacks. His knack for football is a major reason the Saints remained interested in bringing him back despite his limited availability last season.
As for the 2025 injury, the severity wasn't immediately apparent to Blackmon. He said he felt fine while having dinner with his agent after the game. It was not until the following morning that he realized something was wrong.
“It was just hard to hear, especially the anticipation of being back after being hurt the year before,” Blackmon said.
Blackmon said that watching from the sideline changed the way that he saw the game. He said he began putting on his "coach's hat," studying why coaches made specific calls and considering how he could affect each play when he returned to football: “I feel like mentally I’m very locked in, which I’ve got to be. It’s another prove-it year. It's another one-year contract, and it’s another chance for me to get out there and play a full season.”
Blackmon is fully healthy again and firmly in the mix for a significant role in the Saints' secondary. His focus: not taking anything for granted. It's something that he's learned after two frustrating seasons.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Julian Blackmon says football being taken away changed his outlook
Continue reading...
