Key facts
- Jordyn Tyson, No. 8 overall pick in 2026 NFL Draft, out approximately two months with hamstring injury
- Injury sustained during training-camp practice; unrelated to prior hamstring issues per Saints coach Kellen Moore
- Could miss season opener Sept. 13 vs. Detroit Lions; return date possibly late September or mid-to-late October if placed on injured reserve
- DeVaughn Vele likely takes over No. 2 WR duties; caught 25 passes for 293 yards and 2 TDs last season
- Saints also have 2026 draft picks Bryce Lance (Round 4) and Barion Brown (Round 6) available for depth
The injury and timeline
New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson will miss approximately two months due to a hamstring injury he sustained during a training-camp practice. According to NFL Media, Tyson could begin the season on injured reserve while rehabbing from the injury.
Although Tyson has a documented history of hamstring problems dating to his college days at Colorado and Arizona State, Saints coach Kellen Moore stated this is a separate injury unrelated to his prior ailments. Moore attributed the injury to a slip and contact during practice, saying “any player in that situation probably has the same diagnosis coming out of this,” per ESPN.
According to reporting from Nick Underhill at NewOrleans.Football, Tyson could miss time stretching into late September or potentially into mid-to-late October. If the Saints place him on injured reserve, he would be required to miss at least the first four games, which would sideline him through at least the October 5 game against the Atlanta Falcons.
Impact on the Saints offense
Tyson was selected by New Orleans with the No. 8 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and was expected to pair with star receiver Chris Olave to give second-year quarterback Tyler Shough a capable passing-game duo. The rookie had been performing well throughout training camp before the injury.
In Tyson’s absence, DeVaughn Vele is likely to assume No. 2 receiver duties. Vele caught 25 passes for 293 yards and two touchdowns last season, with 20 of those catches and 254 yards coming in the final five games of the year after the Saints traded Rashid Shaheed to Seattle mid-season.
The Saints also have additional receiving depth on the roster in fellow 2026 draft picks Bryce Lance (fourth round) and Barion Brown (sixth round), either of whom could develop a larger role during Tyson’s recovery.
Possible roster moves
The Saints could explore the free-agent market for receiver support. Former Chargers wideout Keenan Allen, who is 34 years old and remains unsigned, is mentioned as a possibility. Allen caught 108 passes for 1,243 yards and seven touchdowns in 2023 under Saints offensive coordinator Kellen Moore when they were both with the Chargers, though he averaged only 45.7 receiving yards per game last season after returning to Los Angeles.
The trade market could also be an avenue. There has been speculation that Patriots receiver Kayshon Boutte could be available given New England’s depth after acquiring A.J. Brown and signing Romeo Doubs, though Boutte is having a strong training camp which could make New England reluctant to deal him.
Season schedule ahead
The Saints open the 2026 season on September 13 against the Detroit Lions, a game Tyson seems certain to miss. Additional early matchups include September 20 against the Baltimore Ravens and September 27 against the Las Vegas Raiders, both of which could potentially serve as return dates depending on recovery speed, though the two-month timeline suggests he may not be ready until well into October.
Sources
Featured photo: TheGoodGeneral 1 via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0)