The New Orleans Saints could be getting closer to having several injured players back on the field, with three important names set to undergo evaluations on Monday.
Jordyn Tyson, Travis Etienne Jr. and Kelvin Banks Jr. will all be re-evaluated by the team's medical staff, with the goal of determining whether Wednesday would be an appropriate time for any of them to return to practice.
Head coach Kellen Moore provided an update on the three players, explaining that their status remains uncertain until they complete additional work with the training staff.
"The IR guys still to be determined, they'll have some work today with the training room, and we'll make a decision whether Wednesday's the ideal time to bring them up," Moore said.
All three players would be important additions for New Orleans as they look to get healthier for the remainder of the season. However, the Saints are taking a cautious approach rather than rushing anyone back before they are ready.
Tyson's potential return would give the Saints another playmaker at wide receiver, and according to ESPN's Adam Schefter , there's a chance he can return as soon as this upcoming week against the Cleveland Browns.
Getting Etienne back is a necessity. The run game has struggled significantly, ultimately leading to the firing of run game coordinator T.J. Paganetti. Having a player like Etienne back in the lineup will be crucial to getting the unit back on track.
Meanwhile, getting Banks back would be especially important for an offensive line that needs consistency and stability up front. Asim Richards has struggled with penalties since taking over for Banks, so having one of the league's promising young tackles back in the lineup would be beneficial.
For now, Wednesday remains a possibility rather than a guarantee for any of the three players. Monday's evaluations will help determine whether they have progressed enough to take the next step in their respective recoveries.
The Saints will have a better idea of where things stand following those evaluations, but the possibility of getting multiple players closer to returning is an encouraging development for a team looking to get healthier down the stretch.
