VERSAILLES, France — Jordyn Tyson will not make his NFL debut on an international stage.
Speaking with reporters at le Stade Montburon, where the New Orleans Saints practiced Wednesday, general manager Mickey Loomis said Tyson will not practice with the team this week.
“But he is improving and we feel like we’re getting closer,” Loomis said. “I don’t have a specific timetable for that yet, but we’re encouraged.”
Tyson suffered a hamstring injury during an August 13 joint practice with the Jacksonville Jaguars and has spent the entirety of his rookie season on injured reserve to this point. With the Saints bye on tap next week, Tyson would not make his debut until Week 9 against the Cleveland Browns in New Orleans.
Injuries have been a big part of Tyson’s football story. He missed time throughout his college career at the University of Colorado and Arizona State with multiple injuries, the last of which was a hamstring injury that prevented him from participating in workouts throughout much of the draft process.
Asked about that history and any predraft concerns the team may have had about Tyson, Loomis reiterated that Tyson’s current situation is “not the same injury that he had before,” and that injuries like this “can happen to any player.”
“It’s unfortunate that it happened at the very beginning of his career, but hopefully this is the one and only injury that he has,” Loomis said. “We’re really encouraged by what we saw in training camp when he was practicing before he got injured, and we’re looking forward to having him back.”
The Saints passing attack has mostly produced at a high level without Tyson in the lineup. Among NFL wide receivers, Chris Olave ranks second in yards (480) and third in receptions (43), while Devaughn Vele has played well as the No. 2 option, with 28 receptions for 294 yards.
Quarterback Tyler Shough has cooled a bit lately after a torrid start, but is still on pace to throw for more than 4,000 yards and 34 touchdowns.
New Orleans has not felt compelled to rush the No. 8 pick in this year’s draft back to the field before he is ready.
“We’re being probably a little more cautious than we would ordinarily,” Loomis said. “But still, the timeline is the timeline.”
