Saints’ Patience With Jordyn Tyson is the Right Call

The New Orleans Saints drafted Jordyn Tyson eighth overall because they believe he can become a difference-maker in their offense. Six games into his rookie season, Saints fans are still waiting to see him play a meaningful NFL snap.

That wait will continue.

General manager Mickey Loomis confirmed Wednesday, Oct. 21, that Tyson will not practice this week as New Orleans prepares to face the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday in Paris. Tyson traveled with the Saints to France, but his 21-day practice window has not been opened as he continues recovering from the hamstring injury he suffered during an Aug. 13 joint practice with Jacksonville. 

It's disappointing news, but it's also the right decision.

Tyson hasn't practiced since suffering the injury in August and remains on injured reserve.

Loomis offered some encouragement Wednesday, saying Tyson is improving and the organization feels he's getting closer, but he stopped short of providing a specific timetable. 

With the Saints on their bye following Sunday's game, Week 9 against Cleveland now represents the earliest possible opportunity for Tyson to make his NFL debut. That doesn't guarantee he'll play then.

And that's important.

Opening Tyson's practice window just because the calendar says he's eligible wouldn't accomplish anything if his hamstring isn't ready for the workload.

The Saints have invested too much in Tyson to gamble with his health because everybody wants to see the new toy.

There's another layer to this.

Tyson dealt with hamstring problems during his college career, including an issue during his final season at Arizona State that affected his pre-draft process. However, Saints coach Kellen Moore has said the injury Tyson suffered with New Orleans is unrelated to those previous problems. 

That's the confirmed information. My opinion is that the history still gives New Orleans every reason to be conservative.

Hamstrings can be tricky. A receiver's game is built around acceleration, sudden stops, cuts and exploding out of breaks. Being "almost ready" isn't necessarily ready enough when your job requires your legs to operate at full speed.

The Saints need Tyson for years. They don't desperately need him for one October afternoon in Paris.

There's another way to look at this situation.

Instead of focusing exclusively on the games Tyson has missed, think about what he potentially adds when he finally returns.

If the Saints can enter their bye with another victory, Tyson could eventually join an offense with momentum rather than one desperately expecting a rookie to rescue it.

That would be a much healthier situation for everybody.

New Orleans should want Tyson complementing the offense, not carrying the responsibility for fixing it.

I understand why Saints fans are impatient. You don't draft a receiver eighth overall to watch him stand on the sideline for half a season.

But this isn't Madden. You can't turn injuries off.

The Saints have Tyson under team control beyond 2026, and the goal should be getting the best version of him onto the field, not simply getting the fastest version of his return.

Sunday against Pittsburgh is important. New Orleans is 2-4 and has an opportunity to enter the bye with consecutive victories.

But Tyson shouldn't be part of that equation until his hamstring says he's ready. Let him recover. Let him practice. Let him rebuild his football conditioning, and then unleash him.