The Jets recently signed wide receiver and return specialist Junior Bergen. Today, we break Bergen down in detail.
The 23-year old Bergen is listed at 5’9” and 184 pounds and was a seventh round pick out of Montana in the 2025 draft. He received FCS all-American and all-Big Sky Conference recognition multiple times during his college career.
Background
Bergen was just a two-star prospect out of high school and headed to Montana, where he was originally going to be a receiver but ended up getting moved
to running back in the spring due to injuries.
His freshman season in 2021 saw him rush for almost 500 yards and four touchdowns with 21 catches for 230 yards and a touchdown. He also got a chance to return some punts and averaged 17.5 yards per return.
In 2022, Bergen moved back to wide receiver and generated 256 yards from scrimmage and four touchdowns on offense. However, he really made his mark in the return game as he averaged almost 15 yards per punt return with two more touchdowns to earn all-Big Sky third team recognition.
2023 was his most productive season as he caught a career high 59 passes for 791 yards and five touchdowns, and he was a second team FCS all-American as a return man with four touchdown returns, including the first kickoff return of his career.
2024 again saw Bergen gain all-Big Sky recognition as a receiver and return man as he caught 48 passes for 542 yards and three touchdowns, and added three more punt return touchdowns. He was an honorable mention FCS all-American as a return man.
After an impressive college career, Bergen heard his name called in the seventh round of the draft as the 49ers brought him in to be their return specialist.
However, he muffed a punt in preseason and ultimately did not make their roster. Although he spent all year on the practice squad, Bergen never did get to make his NFL debut and was then cut right before preseason this year. The Jets signed him last week following an injury to DT Sheffield.
Let’s move onto some more in-depth analysis of what Bergen brings to the table, based on in-depth research and film study.
Measurables/Athleticism
Bergen is small for a wide receiver, but there are plenty of return specialists who are even smaller than he is in the league right now.
He shows some good burst and agility on film, but his pro day numbers across the board were about average. He ran a 4.52 in the 40-yard dash with decent explosiveness and agility numbers and 17 bench press reps which is pretty good for his size.
Usage
On offense, Bergen has primarily played in the slot, which would almost certainly be the main way he’d be used in the Jets’ offense.
He could also be used on jet sweeps. Even after moving back to wide receiver, Bergen carried 21 times over the next three years for 84 yards.
In addition, he played as a dual threat quarterback in his senior year of high school and put these skills to good use in college with a 27-yard touchdown pass as well as throwing a game winning two-point conversion.
Deep threat
Bergen had the speed to get behind the defense at the FCS level with some decent success on deep passes, especially in his last two seasons.
Hands
Bergen had a reasonable 65 percent catch rate at Montana. He dropped just eight passes in four seasons, with four in 2023 but only two in his final season. He had one in preseason last year, though, as he caught just one of three targets for one yard.
He doesn’t have too many highlight reel catches in his film but shows an ability to make catches outside his frame and good body control on sideline catches.
Routes
Bergen developed his route running skills over the course of his college career and shows some ability to lose his defender with double moves and quick changes of direction.
He also breaks down well at the top of his route on quick hitches, which can be effective when his downfield threat gets defenders backing off too much.
Red zone
Bergen is no stranger to the end zone with 26 career touchdowns, although only 13 of them were touchdown catches and he never had more than five offensive touchdowns in a season.
Here’s one play where he did well to get open in close quarters for a red zone score.
After the catch
With his experience as a running back and return man, Bergen is adept at maximising yardage however you get the ball into his hands. He is elusive, with good open field speed and vision.
He has only fumbled after the catch once during his career, but did fumble four times as a rusher. However, he didn’t have any fumbles on offense in his final two seasons.
Blocking
Blocking wasn’t something Bergen was asked to do much of, and you wouldn’t expect it to be a primary role at the NFL level if he gets any offensive reps. His performance grades on analysis sites such as Pro Football Focus were neutral, which for a player like him often just means he was primarily used as a decoy.
Physicality
Bergen’s lack of size means he doesn’t employ much physicality when running routes, carrying the ball or blocking. He did have a decent record on contested catches though.
Special Teams
Clearly Bergen’s primary role at the NFL level is going to be as a return man, although he did also see time as a gunner in college, albeit with just one special teams tackle in limited work.
Interestingly, Bergen had no return experience ahead of his freshman year but clearly took to it like a natural. He returned four kickoffs in his sophomore year and then started doing that full time as well.
His kickoff return numbers are solid but unspectacular as he had 24 yards per return and one touchdown.
However, his punt return numbers are sensational, as he averaged 17 yards per return with eight career touchdowns in college.
One concern is muffed punts. He muffed three during his college career and this one during preseason action.
Instincts and Intelligence
As noted, Bergen took to returning punts like a duck to water as he obviously had a natural affinity for it. His vision and patience are outstanding, especially once he breaks into the open field.
Attitude
Bergen is a hard worker who wasn’t vocal but led by example in college. He had a team-first attitude with his willingness to try new roles and was humble, grounded and determined.
He once said he used to pretend to be ill so he could skip school and watch path to the draft, which showcases his passion for the game, but is also the closest thing he has to a discipline concern.
On-field discipline was good, though, with just one offensive penalty in his career.
Injuries
Injuries weren’t a major issue for Bergen as he played 51 games in four seasons at Montana. However, anyone with his lack of size was always going to create a durability concern and he was banged up at times.
In 2022, he was bothered by a hand injury that affected his production. Then in 2023 he missed a couple of weeks with an AC joint sprain in his shoulder. A minor knee injury bothered him in 2024 but he didn’t miss any time.
Scheme Fit
Bergen replaces Sheffield who didn’t get any offensive reps in the first preseason game but had all the return reps in the second half, so we can probably expect Bergen’s role in the rest of preseason to be similar.
He was a teammate of current Jets cornerback Tre Brown while with the 49ers last year.
Conclusions
After last season, the Jets’ punt return role obviously belongs to Isaiah Williams. However, if Williams continues to ascend on offense, the Jets might opt to take those duties away from him and an opportunity for someone like Bergen could arise.
His body of work as a return man is much better than that of Sheffield – and Jamaal Pritchett, his other main competition. This makes a spot on the practice squad and the hope of a call-up at some point this season a realistic possibility.
He doesn’t have too long to establish himself though, so one big play or one big mistake could decide his future.
