Jordyn Tyson’s long-awaited NFL debut is finally here. The No. 8 overall pick is set to be activated off injured reserve and play in the Saints’ Week 9 matchup with the Browns on Sunday, according to NFL insider Jordan Schultz.
Surprisingly, New Orleans is also expected to activate Kelvin Banks, per ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler. The second-year left tackle will only miss six weeks due to a September high ankle sprain that required surgery. He returned to practice this week and will offer a major upgrade over Asim Richards, who has struggled to protect Tyler Shough’s blind side over the last month-and-a-half.
Banks was a limited practice participant in all three of the Saints’ practices this week with a questionable designation for Sunday’s game. New Orleans could opt to rotate him and Richards to avoid placing to heavy of a burden on the 2025 No. 9 pick’s surgically-repaired ankle.
Tyson, 22, has been dealing with a hamstring injury for virtually the entire year. He landed on IR during final roster cuts at the end of August with a designation to return, though he did not return to practice in Week 5 when he was eligible. Instead, Tyson’s practice window was opened this week, followed by a speedy ramp-up that has him “good to go” against Cleveland, Schultz adds.
However, like Banks, Tyson did not get upgraded to full practice participation this week, indicating he, too, could be on a pitch count on Sunday. His injury history, especially the lingering nature of his current hamstring issue, is even more of a concern and will likely motivate a cautious approach in his first NFL action.