Herndon was released by New Orleans on Tuesday, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Herndon joined the Saints on Aug. 3 after spending last season with the Vikings. The veteran tight end has yet to capitalize on the promise he showed in his 2018 rookie season with the Jets, where he caught 39 of 56 targets for 502 yards and four touchdowns in 16 games. He'll now work to earn an opportunity elsewhere.
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Saints' Chris Herndon: Signs with New Orleans
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The Saints signed Herndon on Wednesday, Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com reports.
Herndon will play for his third NFL team in as many years after seeing just seven targets while playing second fiddle to Tyler Conklin in Minnesota last season. He enters a crowded tight end room that includes promising third-year player Adam Trautman, gadget-knife Taysom Hill and blocking specialist Nick Vannett. Herndon's path to playing time is unclear, and whether he makes the initial 53-man roster may depend on whether New Orleans opts to keep four tight ends.
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Chris Herndon: Nearing deal with New Orleans
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Herndon is expected to sign with the Saints, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Herndon was selected by the Jets in the fourth round of the 2018 Draft and had a promising rookie season he has yet to be able to duplicate. The four-year pro spent last season with the Vikings, recording four catches on seven targets for 40 yards and a touchdown.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Taken off COVID list
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The Vikings activated Herndon (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list Friday.
Herndon is healthy for the offseason after missing Week 18. He played in each of Minnesota's first 16 games in 2021, but was targeted only five times while averaging 11.5 snaps per contest. Herndon turns 26 in February, and 60 percent of his career receiving yards (502 of 836) came during his 2018 rookie campaign. He'll become an unrestricted free agent in March if he doesn't re-sign with Minnesota first.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Not available for finale
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The Vikings didn't reinstate Herndon (illness) from the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to Sunday's game against the Bears, Will Ragatz of SI.com reports.
Minnesota at least restored some depth at tight end for the finale with blocking specialist Ben Ellefson (foot/knee) making his return from injured reserve, but Herndon's absence will leave the Vikings without at true pass-catching threat at the position beyond starter Tyler Conklin. After being acquired from the Jets prior to Week 1, Herndon concludes his first season in Minnesota with just four receptions for 40 yards and a touchdown on seven targets over 16 games.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list
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Herndon (neck) was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.
The tight end tested positive for COVID-19 on Tuesday and will now enter the league's protocols surrounding the virus. Herndon suffered a neck injury in Week 17 against the Packers, making it unlikely that he plays Sunday versus the Bears regardless of the his ability to clear COVID protocols.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Injures neck on SNF
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Herndon (neck) is questionable to return to Sunday's game against Green Bay.
Herndon wasn't targeted prior to being injured. Luke Stocker should see more run alongside Tyler Conklin at tight end in heavy sets with Herndon hurt.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: No targets Week 13
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Herndon played 13 offensive snaps and wasn't targeted during Sunday's 29-27 loss to the Lions.
Herndon and Luke Stocker each played 13 offensive snaps while starting tight end Tyler Conklin led Minnesota's pass catchers with 72 snaps. Herndon has only three catches for 23 yards and a touchdown in 12 games this season and has no fantasy appeal in his current role as a depth tight end.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: No targets in Sunday's loss
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Herndon didn't record a target during Sunday's 34-26 loss to the 49ers.
Herndon didn't record a target for the second consecutive game and played just eight offensive snaps, his lowest total since Week 9. As long as Tyler Conklin is healthy, it doesn't appear like Herndon will have much of a role in Minnesota's passing game.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Has one reception Sunday
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Herndon had one reception for 14 yards on two targets in Sunday's win at the Chargers.
Herndon tied for a season-high 23 snaps on offense, as he's usually been a non-factor in the passing game. He also had a bad drop during the game, so it doesn't appear he'll have a significant role in the air attack as long as Tyler Conklin is healthy.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Catches first Vikings touchdown
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Herndon caught a two-yard touchdown on his only target in Sunday's win at Carolina.
It was Herndon's first catch of the season and only his third target, as he's had a near non-existent role on offense despite the touchdown. However, he played on a season-high 24 of the offense's 89 snaps, which could indicate his role may grow.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: No offensive role
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Herndon was on the field for only seven of the Vikings' 67 offensive snaps in Sunday's loss to Cleveland.
Herndon has not surpassed 12 offensive snaps in any game this season, though Sunday was his lowest mark of the campaign. He has yet to log a reception with his new team, and he has slipped behind both Tyler Conklin and Ben Ellefson in terms of involvement in the offense.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Plays just 12 snaps
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Herndon did not have a target and played just 12 snaps on offense in Sunday's loss at Arizona.
Herndon also played 12 snaps Week 1 but had two targets. Meanwhile, Ben Ellefson played 16 snaps. Tyler Conklin had two receptions and played 49 snaps as the clear top tight end with Irv Smith out for the season with a knee injury. Herndon's role could grow, but there's no sign yet that he could be a significant part of the passing game.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Plays 12 snaps in Vikings debut
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Herndon did not have a catch on two targets and played 12 snaps on offense in Sunday's overtime loss at Cincinnati.
Herndon may have played more than expected after being traded to Minnesota from the Jets on Aug. 31. Tyler Conklin had four receptions and played 59 snaps as the clear top tight end with Irv Smith out for the season with a knee injury. Herndon could overtake Conklin for the top role if he gets up to speed with the offense and returns to his 2018 rookie form, but he'll likely have a limited role in the offense in the meantime. At the least, Herndon played more snaps than Brandon Dillon, who only was used on special teams.
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Listed as No. 3 TE
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Herndon is listed as the No. 3 tight end on Minnesota's unofficial depth chart for Week 1 at Cincinnati.
Herndon was traded to Minnesota from the Jets on Aug. 31, so he's likely still catching up in learning the offense. Tyler Conklin is set to begin the season as the starting tight end with Irv Smith out for the season due to a knee injury. Brandon Dillon is listed as the No. 2 tight end. While Herndon begins the season at No. 3, it's possible he could move to the No. 2 role and be used in two-tight end sets or even become the primary pass-catching tight end once he learns the offense. However, he'll need to avoid the injury issues and inconsistency that plagued him in New York. He has upside if he can find the form of his 2018 rookie season (39 receptions for 502 yards and four touchdowns).
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Vikings' Chris Herndon: Headed to Minnesota
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Herndon was traded to the Vikings from the Jets on Tuesday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
Draft-pick compensation is reportedly headed back to the Jets, while Herndon helps fill a need at tight end for the Vikings with both Irv Smith (knee) and Tyler Conklin (hamstring) dealing with injuries. Smith's timeline for a return to action is cloudy while he undergoes surgery to address a meniscus issue, so Herndon gives the team a player with some upside to introduce to the passing attack once he's up to speed with Minnesota's offense.
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Jets' Chris Herndon: Working with second-team unit
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Herndon (hamstring) is participating in drills with the second-team offense Wednesday, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.
Herndon missed June minicamp due to the hamstring injury, and while it's encouraging to see him back on the practice field, it's also concerning that he's not handling first-team reps. Previous reports indicated Herndon struggled to pick up the Jets' new offensive playbook during the offseason, and he won't be assured a starting role under the team's new regime. If Tyler Kroft and Ryan Griffin look more consistent throughout training camp, Herndon could open the season second or third on the depth chart at tight end.
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Jets' Chris Herndon: Struggling with new offense
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Herndon (hamstring) has struggled to pick up the Jets' new playbook this offseason, Connor Hughes of The Athletic reports.
Herndon was bothered by a tight hamstring during June minicamp, but that may not have been the only reason both Tyler Kroft and Ryan Griffin earned first-team snaps at tight end. Given that he's disappointed in back-to-back in seasons after a 500-yard rookie campaign, Herndon shouldn't be viewed as a shoo-in starter, especially now that the Jets have a new coaching staff. Offensive coordinator Mike LaFleur is coming over from a 49ers team that emphasized tight ends in the passing game, but that was more about George Kittle's talent rather than Kyle Shanahan's personal philosophy. Herndon, Kroft and Griffin could all compete for the starting job in training camp.
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Jets' Chris Herndon: Dealing with hamstring issue
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Herndon tended to a tight hamstring during the Jets' recent mandatory minicamp, Ralph Vacchiano of SportsNet New York reports.
As a result, Herndon's practice reps were capped Tuesday, according to coach Robert Saleh. Saleh considers Herndon to be "perfectly fine," and the tight end will have a month to get back to 100 percent for training camp in late July. With negligible changes to the TE room this offseason, Herndon is positioned to the be the No. 1 at the position for rookie signal-caller Zach Wilson in 2021.
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Jets' Chris Herndon: Saves best game for last
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Herndon caught seven of nine targets for 63 yards and a touchdown in Sunday's season-ending 28-14 loss to the Patriots.
Herndon absorbed an illegal helmet-to-helmet hit and still held onto the ball on his 21-yard touchdown catch late in the first half, and he ultimately set season highs in both catches and yards to finish his third campaign on a high note. The tight end struggled to get going for much of the year, but he posted three of his four highest yardage totals in the last three games and finished on a two-game touchdown streak. Though Herndon totaled just 31 catches for 287 yards and three touchdowns overall, he may have salvaged his spot atop New York's tight end depth chart heading into next year with the late-season surge.
