VIDEO REPORT: Safety Julian Blackmon ready to overcome past injuries to help Saints this season

VIDEO REPORT: Safety Julian Blackmon ready to overcome past injuries to help Saints this season

Sharief IshaqNEW ORLEANS —

New Orleans Saints safety Julian Blackmon suffered a season-ending shoulder injury last year in the regular season opener against the Arizona Cardinals.

But he did enough in the coaches’ eyes last offseason for the team to bring him back on a one year contract to prove himself, while at the same time, help out this defense.

“They saw enough to know if I came back and was able to get a full season, things would be really good, it would benefit the whole team. We like to say together we eat and, I’m excited for my opportunity this year because we can do that with me on the field,” Blackmon said.

On the field is where Blackmon wants to be.

After watching from the sidelines, it made him a little more appreciative when it comes to playing football.

“I feel like that’s exactly how I approached the off season is just humbly because, you know, something that’s given to you can be just as quickly taken away. For me, obviously, my career has been trials and errors, a lot of hardships, but at the same time, a lot of gratitude. So just being out there with my guys, remembering what it feels like to be in pads is a blessing.”

A blessing for a guy who’s fought through injuries in his career.

Shoulder injury in both the regular season openers in 2024 and 2025, ankle injury in 2022 and a torn Achilles in 2021, so staying healthy is a motivating factor for Blackmon.

“Sometimes things just happen and sometimes things happen because you didn’t take care of your body, so you don’t want to give it any reason to be like, all right, I got hurt because I wasn’t being aware of my body and the things that I need to get stronger. It’s definitely something we put in the forefront.”