The New Orleans Saints have spent the first seven games of the season without the 8th pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Coming out of the bye, that situation has started to change.
At long last, the New Orleans Saints' top rookie is on track to make his NFL debut.
Saints rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson is practicing Wednesday, per Nick Underhill
. New Orleans has officially designated him to return from the Reserve/Injured list, which opens the door for the No. 8 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft to finally suit up.
The news is huge for the Saints, who played their first seven games without Tyson at their disposal.
Tyson suffered a hamstring injury during his first preseason. The timing was a blow, and it hit on the exact concern that followed him through the pre-draft process.
Durability was a weak point in Tyson's pre-draft profile
. For him to suffer a notable injury before his career even began was not a great development, and it kept a top-10 pick on the sidelines for nearly half the season.
New Orleans had to move forward without him. The early returns on that front have been mixed.
Saints quarterback Tyler Shough has been productive under center in Kellen Moore's offense despite Tyson's absence. That said, Tyson's arrival will be quite welcomed.
The Saints rank 20th in EPA per dropback and 15th in dropback success rate. Those are middle-of-the-pack figures for an offense that has a quarterback playing well, and they point to a lack of reliable options beyond the top of the depth chart.
That's where Tyson can make an impact. New Orleans needs a true No. 2 option to complement Chris Olave, and that role is the whole reason Tyson was drafted in the top 10 back in April. Pairing Olave with a second receiver who demands attention is a smart fit for Shough's development and for Moore's play-calling.
New Orleans needs to rely on its offense to start racking up wins in a very weak NFC South. The Saints are positioned to fill the vacuum atop the division if the passing game takes a step forward.
Tyson's return and eventual debut can help elevate them where they need to go.
The designation to return does not guarantee Tyson takes the field this week. The Saints have three weeks for Tyson to practice without him counting against their 53-man roster, so there's no requirement for him to play right away.
New Orleans can take its time if it needs to. With a rookie who already carried durability questions, a measured approach would be understandable.
But this has been coming for some time. The entire team got a rest week last week during the bye, and Tyson now has a full slate of practices ahead of him.
It seems like Tyson's return is inevitable, and that's phenomenal news for a New Orleans team set to take on the Cleveland Browns at home on Sunday
.
This article was originally published on A to Z Sports. Read the full story here: Saints rookie WR Jordyn Tyson's long-awaited injury update gives New Orleans offense the jolt it has been missing
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