Jordyn Tyson Remains Limited in Saints Return

New Orleans Saints rookie wide receiver Jordyn Tyson remained a limited participant at Thursday’s practice, according to Katherine Terrell of ESPN.com.

It was the second straight limited practice for Tyson since the Saints opened his 21-day window to return from injured reserve on Wednesday.

Tyson has not played a regular-season snap this year.

The Saints selected him with the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft last April.

A hamstring injury suffered during an Aug. 13 training camp practice has kept him sidelined ever since.

Tyson spent the first seven games of the season on injured reserve.

Under NFL rules, a player placed on IR must miss at least four games.

Once the 21-day practice window opens, the team has three weeks to either activate the player to the 53-man roster or place him back on IR for the remainder of the season.

The Saints have not yet committed to playing Tyson this Sunday against the Cleveland Browns.

Head coach Kellen Moore has not announced whether the rookie will dress for the Week 9 matchup.

Typically, teams prefer a player to log at least one full practice before clearing him for game action.

Tyson has not yet practiced fully this week.

This makes it more likely that his NFL regular-season debut will be delayed at least one more week, according to CBS Sports’ assessment.

An official move adding Tyson to the 53-man roster would need to happen before he can play.

Despite the limited designation, Tyson told reporters he feels fully recovered.

“I feel more explosive than I ever have, so I think I’m pretty good,” Tyson said.

He said his hamstring now feels 100%.

Tyson added that he ran his fastest time since beginning his rehabilitation.

“I think I’m doing just fine,” he said.

The injury occurred during a contact drill on Aug. 13.

Tyson described it as a contact injury, not a non-contact pull.

“It was a contact injury,” Tyson said.

“It’s not like I was running and I just pulled it. (The) guy pushed me very, very hard — a big dude at that — and kind of just went down on the sidelines. I feel like a lot of people with a hamstring would do the same thing, but it was cool.”

Tyson said he tried to stay “level-headed” after the diagnosis nearly three months ago.

He acknowledged that this was not how he wanted to begin his NFL career.

But he also noted that this latest hamstring issue was different from the type that bothered him during his final college season and lingered before the draft.

Before the injury, Tyson was one of New Orleans’ top performers in training camp.

He demonstrated a strong connection with quarterback Tyler Shough.

His shifty speed opened up the middle of the field during camp practices.

Shough has been careful not to overhype expectations for Tyson’s return.

“He’s a dawg,” Shough said.

“I think he brings this mentality, this elusiveness, this versatility to our offense that it’s hard to replace. At the same time, there’s a lot of unknown. We haven’t had a lot of reps with him.”

Shough added: “It could be even greater than we could imagine. It could be not a significant role as we may think. And both are extremely OK. We have to do a better job as a whole offense.”

Tyson has taken an unusual approach to his time on the sideline.

He described the extended absence as a blessing in disguise.

“Got a slow start to the NFL, so I got to take my time and really adjust to it I feel like,” Tyson told the media.

“So, I think it’s been a blessing.”

Tyson said he remained active in everything except practicing and playing.

He watched games from the sideline and attended meetings.

He observed how teammate Chris Olave excelled early in the season.

He also studied how Devaughn Vele creates space at the line of scrimmage in the red zone.

Tyson believes this mental preparation will help him hit the ground running when he finally takes the field.

Seeing what professional preparation looks like, he said, gave him a better idea of what does and does not translate from college to the NFL.

Tyson’s college coach at the University of Houston was former NFL wide receiver Hines Ward.

Ward, a Super Bowl MVP with the Pittsburgh Steelers, has spoken about Tyson’s work ethic and potential.

The Saints’ receiving corps currently includes Chris Olave, Devaughn Vele, and Rashid Shaheed.

Olave has had a strong start to the season, establishing himself as Shough’s primary target.

Vele has been effective creating separation in the red zone.

Shaheed provides deep speed on the outside.

Adding Tyson to that group would give the Saints another versatile option in the passing game.

Tyson was widely considered one of the top wide receiver prospects in the 2026 draft class.

He was the first wide receiver selected in the draft.

The Saints traded up to secure the eighth overall pick to take him.

General Manager Mickey Loomis has expressed confidence in Tyson’s long-term potential.

The team has been cautious with his return, not wanting to rush a player they view as a cornerstone piece.

Hamstring injuries are notoriously tricky for wide receivers.

Aggravating the injury could lead to a longer absence or recurring issues throughout the season.

The Saints have until the end of Tyson’s 21-day window to make a decision on his activation.

If he is not activated within that window, he would revert to IR for the remainder of the year.

That would end his rookie season before it truly begins.

Tyson’s comments suggest he believes he is ready now.

Whether the coaching staff agrees will likely determine if he suits up Sunday or waits another week.

The Browns game is a home contest at the Caesars Superdome.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:00 p.m. ET on Sunday.