If Chris Hogan hadn't picked up a call from his agent last week, he could've been suiting up for the Whipsnakes this weekend in a pro lacrosse game against the Waterdogs.
But the 32-year-old receiver couldn't turn down a chance to return to the NFL after a brief stint in another pro league, he said this week after training camp practice in Metairie. Within 24 hours of getting a call from his agent that the Saints wanted him in for a workout, he had a deal for an NFL return in New Orleans.
Hogan played for the Jets in 2020 but finished the season on injured reserve with an ankle injury.
"For me it was an opportunity to go play lacrosse, I wasn’t sure what my future held for football. … I didn’t want to retire," Hogan said. "That’s why I kept this door open and the opportunity came for me to come down here and participate in training camp. And I couldn’t pass on that opportunity.
After agreeing to the deal Hogan flew back to his home on Long Island to see his wife and kids, and now his sole focus is on helping the Saints. Hogan isn't worried about his conditioning, he said, since the crossover between both sports is similar. He's just getting used to running routes again and trying to learn as much as possible in a short time to help his new team.
"I’ve only been down here for a couple days and been a part of the team, but you know I think the more that you can do with this team, whatever team it is, the more that you can learn, the more that you can do, the longer you’re going to be able to stick around," Hogan said. "If you’re able to do multiple different things and be good at multiple different things I think you’re able to last in this league, be available, obviously. And I think guys will and coaches will like that about you. So that’s really what I try to do."
But whatever Hogan is able to do on the field might be outweighed by the impact of a veteran presence in the wide receiver room. With Michael Thomas currently on the PUP list as he recovers from ankle surgery, Hogan is the only regular wide receiver contributor -- excluding crossover running back Ty Montgomery -- that isn't on a rookie deal.
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Hogan spoke to that point specifically, pointing to areas that he can be a resource to young players that the Saints will look to for added responsibilities without Thomas, including Tre'Quan Smith, Marquez Callaway and Deonte Harris, the latter of whom could soon face NFL discipline stemming from an arrest in July for alleged drunk driving.
Hogan went undrafted out of Monmouth, a similar path to Harris and Callaway, before starting his career with the Bills in 2013. He really made his name with the Patriots beginning in 2016 and still holds the franchise records for receiving yards in a playoff game (180). Hogan spent the 2019 season with the Panthers before joining the Jets in 2020. For his career Hogan has caught 216 passes for 2,795 yards and 18 touchdowns.
“The season is tough, there’s adversity that comes along with playing in the NFL. And you know there’s going to be highs, there’s going to be lows, and how you respond and how you act and how you carry yourself through those low times and adversity times, I think is something that I can kinda help guide some of those younger players in because New England wasn’t always smooth sailing, or anywhere that I’ve been," Hogan said. "You lose games and you’ve got to be able to bounce back, short-term memory. You’re playing to try to get to December, January. You’re playing for the playoffs, but every single game matters. You just go week by week by week. Don’t look forward to the future, and every single day come to work with a purpose and try to act as professional as you can.”
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