Jordyn Tyson turned some heads at New Orleans Saints practice over the weekend, ramping up his rehab work with some intense sprinting and resistance band work to test his hamstring. A preseason injury put the Saints' first-round pick on injured reserve to start his rookie year, and now that Tyson will be eligible to return from IR after Monday night's game with the Atlanta Falcons, anticipation is building as to when he'll receive the green light.
However, Tyson "is still considered to be weeks away from returning to action," Adam Schefter reports for ESPN. Schefter adds that, "The Saints are taking a patient, long-term approach with Tyson, who is not likely to return until Week 7 at the earliest." That lines up with what was reported in the first
place, when initial reports put Tyson on a two-month recovery timeline.
It's frustrating for Saints fans who want to see their team's top-drafted rookie get to work with Tyler Shough and Chris Olave, but their patience could pay off. New Orleans will match up with the Minnesota Vikings at home in Week 5 before hitting the road for away games in New York (against the Giants in Week 6) and Paris (against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 7). If the team isn't ready to put him on the field in Paris, where they'll be playing on the same artificial turf used at the Caesars Superdome, the Week 8 bye gives Tyson a little more time to prepare for a debut in Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns (in New Orleans).
Recovering from injury isn't just physical. Even if Tyson is passing his checks with the Saints' medical team, they'll want him to have full confidence in his leg before asking him to compete against NFL defensive backs. Rushing him back before he's mentally ready could lead to overcompensating and reinjury. The team doesn't want to sit him longer just for the sake of it, but it's a tricky balancing acct to pull off.
At least the passing offense hasn't missed a step in his absence. Shough led the NFL in passing first down conversions through three weeks (48) and averaged 305.7 passing yards per game, second-most in the league behind his division rival Bryce Young. But there's no question that Tyson could add more to the offense. Olave and Devaughn Vele account for 42 of Shough's 91 completions with just five other passes caught by wide receivers (rookie fourth-round pick Bryce Lance went 4-for-50 while Kevin Austin Jr. had a single 7-yard grab). The hope for Tyson to join the team's 1,000-yard club as a rookie may be faint, but his return (when it comes) will be welcome.
This article originally appeared on Saints Wire: Jordyn Tyson injury: ESPN says Saints rookie 'weeks away from return'
