The Saints took a hit to their passing game before the regular season even started, and the timing couldn’t be worse. Rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson, the eighth overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft out of Arizona State, is expected to miss about two months after suffering a severe right hamstring injury in training camp.
From The Insiders on @nflnetwork following @wyche89 talking about the #Saints leaning on their TEs, especially with Jordyn Tyson shelved with a hamstring injury. Rookie Oscar Delp has one of his own but it doesn’t sound like it’s too significant. pic.twitter.com/FSrDtNjes0
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) August 26, 2026
That leaves New Orleans staring at a real hole on the outside, especially after the offense never got into gear in a 34-0 preseason loss to the Los Angeles Rams. But the answer may already be sitting in the building.
On NFL Network’s “The Insiders,” Mike Garafolo pointed to the tight end group as the place where Kellen Moore and his staff can make the adjustment.
“The Saints felt good about Delp, he's currently dealing with a hamstring injury, doesn't sound like a big deal,” Garafolo reported. “That's really interesting information for you to say, okay cool, we're banged up at the receiver position, we can lean on our tight ends.”
Rookie tight end Oscar Delp gives New Orleans the kind of size and reliable hands that can work the middle of the field, and while he’s dealing with a minor hamstring issue of his own, he’s expected back soon. That makes him a natural fit next to veteran Juwan Johnson.
If the Saints lean into more multi-tight end looks, they can take some pressure off a depleted receiver room, give quarterback Tyler Shough dependable outlets, and keep the offense physical between the hashes.
New Orleans still has to get through the final stretch before Week 1, but shifting the offense around the tight ends gives them a straightforward way to keep things moving until Tyson is back.
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For the Saints, the move is a reminder that the backfield picture may have been shakier than it looked on the surface. White arrives with a chance to compete in a room that needed more answers, and the trade suggests New Orleans was willing to act before the cutdown crunch made those decisions for them. Jones, meanwhile, was likely headed toward release as well, which is why this reads less like a splashy transaction and more like two teams quietly solving a problem at the same time. [Read more 🡒]