There will be a lot of eyes on Jordyn Tyson when the rookie dresses out for his first New Orleans Saints game. Expectations are high for anyone drafted inside the top ten picks, but Tyson returned to practice for the first time since mid-August after injuring his hamstring. With his team struggling to stay afloat at 2-5, the sooner he can get into a game and make some plays, the better.
One spectator who will be watching him closer than others? Former NFL wide receiver Hines Ward, Tyson's position coach at Arizona State. FOX 10 Phoneix's Blake Niemann caught up with Ward on Wednesday to get his reaction on Tyson's recovery from injury.s
"I talked to him yesterday," Ward began. "Always praying for him, and, more than anything, I think he's finally
healthy. It's been a long journey. Had the hamstring, was trying to prep and trying to get ready for the draft, ended up hurting it again. It is what it is, that's just a part of football, injuries are that. So I just want to be there, see him when he's making his first NFL catch, man. Right when he does make that catch I'll shoot him a text (and) tell him I love him. Just wish him (the best). He's gonna be a good one. I'm just glad to see him finally get healthy now."
Tyson has a history of hamstring injuries, as Ward alluded to; he tried to play through one in his last year at Arizona State before aggravating it while training for drills at the NFL Scouting Combine. And then it happened again at the end of Saints training camp. Ward was a great mentor and resource to lean on for him; the longtime Pittsburgh Steeler finished his career with exactly 1,000 receptions, ranking 18th all-time. Hopefully Tyson can stay healthy and make a run at lofty numbers just like those as his own NFL career gets off the ground.
But he needs to dress out for his first game before he can worry about chasing any records. Tyson practiced on a limited basis Wednesday and needs to prove he's ready for Sunday's home game with the Cleveland Browns. The Saints have some time to work him back into full practice reps before they must activate him from injured reserve, but his debut will draw attention from around the country (including Arizona) when he does get across that finish line.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Jordyn Tyson's college coach Hines Ward on return to Saints practice
