Jordyn Tyson went on short term injured reserve during the New Orleans Saints roster cuts, as expected since his hamstring injury was expected to keep him out for roughly two months. That timeline would keep him out slightly longer than the required four weeks that short term IR mandates. Losing your first round pick for at least the first month of the season isn’t ideal for the Saints, but it gives Tyler Shough a chance to be proven right about Juwan Johnson.
Johnson is coming off the best year of his career, and Shough declared that we haven't even seen the best of what the tight end has to offer yet. What felt like a bold and overly optimistic stance at first now feels like a slight possibility.
Last season, Johnson finished with 889 yards receiving. It was by far his most productive season, and that was primarily because he played a more prominent role in the offense than ever before. It's all lining up to be the same story, at least early in the season.
Tyler Shough may be proven right about Juwan Johnson
The doubt around Shough's comments largely stemmed from role on the offense. Shough could have been right about Johnson not hitting his ceiling as a player but also hitting his production ceiling.
Wide receiver departures during the season created a clear hierarchy among receiving threats, and Johnson was only second to Chris Olave. That could once again be true, while Tyson is out. It will be tough for Johnson to top his season totals from last year, but we could see that other level that Shough teased.
We've focused on wide receivers to replace Tyson. Rightfully so since the rookie is a... wide receiver. From that standpoint, Devaughn Vele is the next man up.
A wide receiver will take Tyson's place, but his production can be supplanted by any receiving threat. Vele should have a bigger role and has the talent to take advantage of the increase in targets. However, it's much easier to see Johnson getting more targets than Vele than it was to see Johnson get more targets than Tyson.
The lack of experience at wide receiver, as a whole, could lead to Kellen Moore fielding more multiple tight end sets. There isn't a tight end on the roster who will take advantage of those looks than Johnson.
It helps that Shough's chemistry with Johnson is instant. The two actually go back to their collegiate days at Oregon, and it's obvious when you watch them play.
Johnson was the Saints' best run after the catch threat, and Shough's placement helped the tight end excel at that. They're going to have to do that and some to reach and surpass the 889 yards from last season. The longer Tyson is out, the more time they have to get close.
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