The New Orleans Saints offense has been pretty barren as the team heads into the bye week. They have plenty of problems to fix, but one area that needs adjusting is the receiving room. With the offense essentially only using two wide receivers this year (Chris Olave and Devaughn Vele), the WR room has a lot of potential as the 2026 season enters its second half without Jordyn Tyson having taken a snap.
Olave and Vele are the two leading receivers for the Saints right now, with 636 receiving yards and 348 receiving yards, respectively. No other receiver is close to them, as the team's current WR3, Bryce Lance, only has 78 receiving yards and one touchdown. Fewer than two tight ends and a running back, no one else in the room has been able to get themselves in the mix.
The group does have a member missing in action at the moment, with Tyson still rehabbing his hamstring injury he suffered in August. However, he's now at the two-month recovery timeline that was given and has even been seen catching some footballs in pre-game warm-ups. So, if that's any indication, the Saints receiving room could soon get a much-needed boost.
A Jordyn Tyson return will only help the Saints
Jordyn Tyson was drafted by the Saints because he was seen as a player who could help the team on a long-term basis due to his versatility, route-running, and just general ball skills. He was also on pace to be the MVP of training camp before he went down with the injury, which only adds to the sting of each game he's missed so far. Durability was a concern for Tyson heading into the draft, so his absence isn't necessarily all that surprising, but either way it still delays the payoff he was drafted for.
The biggest payoff was his anticipated production in the middle of the field, which was his bread and butter back at Arizona State. With Tyler Shough retaining his efficiency in that area, Tyson's return could change the New Orleans offense. That, combined with his 85.6% success rate against zone coverage (the highest of the 2026 WR class), means he can really be a weapon.
When Tyson makes his highly anticipated return, he'll likely slot in the WR2 spot, the role that Devaughn Vele has been in to start this season. A solid upgrade for the group, with him in the mix next to Olave and Vele, the Saints potentially have a three-headed monster at their disposal. However, since he has yet to be activated off of injured reserve, the monster might have to hibernate for a little longer.
After the bye week, fans should watch to see if the Saints activate his practice window. If it is, the 21-day window allows Tyson to return as soon as the week nine game against the Cleveland Browns or as late as the week 11 game against the Chicago Bears. Whenever Tyson returns, though, it'll be the Saints' best chance to have a different second half of the season.
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