Jordyn Tyson’s move to short-term injured reserve didn’t just thin out the New Orleans Saints’ receiving options. It also created a cleaner runway for one of the more interesting offseason bets on the roster: Tyler Shough’s belief that Juwan Johnson still has another level to hit.
Tyson’s hamstring injury was expected to sideline him for roughly two months, which made the short-term IR designation a formality during roster cuts. That absence will stretch beyond the four-week minimum, and while losing a first-round pick for even the first month is far from ideal, it does open the door for Johnson to keep building on what was already the best season of his career.
Shough’s confidence in Johnson looked aggressive when he said the Saints still hadn’t seen the tight end at his peak. Now, it reads more like a real possibility than a hot take.
Johnson posted 889 receiving yards last season, easily the most productive stretch of his career. A big part of that jump came from a larger role in the offense, and that same setup could be back in place early this year. The challenge is that Johnson may not have a higher statistical ceiling so much as a better chance to be featured again.
That’s where Tyson’s injury matters. The Saints will obviously look to replace a wide receiver, and Devaughn Vele is the next man up in that equation.
But Johnson doesn’t need to directly replace Tyson’s position to benefit from the vacancy. He just needs more of the targets that were available, and it’s easier to imagine him climbing into that space than it was to picture him leapfrogging Tyson himself.
There’s also the broader shape of the offense to consider. With so little experience at wide receiver, Kellen Moore could lean into more multiple-tight-end looks, and Johnson is the tight end best positioned to cash in if that happens.
Shough and Johnson already have a built-in connection from their Oregon days, and that familiarity shows up on the field. Johnson was the Saints’ best run-after-the-catch threat, and Shough’s ball placement helped unlock that part of his game.
If the Saints are going to push toward or beyond last season’s 889 yards from Johnson, that pairing will have to keep working. The longer Tyson is out, the more time they have to get there.
In Other News...
Saints Cornerback Shakeup Just Took Another Veteran Off The Board
Isaac Yiadoms second run with the Saints ended in the final roster cuts, and the veteran cornerback has already landed a new opportunity with the Washington Commanders practice squad. Yiadom had been back in New Orleans after previously spending time with the club, and he managed to appear in 14 games last season before the Saints moved in a younger direction at the position.
For a defense that has spent the offseason reshaping its cornerback room, Yiadoms departure fits the broader trend of leaning into youth and competition. The Saints are clearly moving forward with a different mix on the back end, and his quick next stop only underscores how many teams still view experienced defensive backs as useful depth even if they are no longer part of the immediate plan in New Orleans. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Have A Quiet Post-Cut Battle Fans Should Watch
With the initial 53-man roster in place, the Saints are now moving into the next quiet but important phase of roster building: sorting out who might circle back on the practice squad. The club is also keeping an eye on a possible extra spot through the International Player Pathway program, which adds another layer to a process that often ends up shaping depth as much as the roster cuts themselves.
A handful of players stand out as possible priorities if they make it through waivers, including Zamir White, Charlie Smyth and Hunter Dekkers. The group is a mix of useful depth pieces and developmental bets, the kind of names that can disappear in the cutdown rush but still matter once injuries, special teams needs and long-season attrition start to hit. For the Saints, the next move is less about headlines than about making sure the right pieces are still available when the practice squad comes together. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Just Added Two New Line Options Before Week 1
The Saints added a little late-August insurance after the NFL roster cuts deadline, claiming offensive tackle Mason Murphy from the Bears and defensive lineman Colby Wooden from the Colts. It gives New Orleans another chance to reshape both the offensive line and the interior front as the team turns its attention toward Week 1, and it also brings in two players who already have some NFL experience and a shared college background at Auburn.
Murphy and Wooden are expected to factor into a roster picture that is still being sorted out, because the Saints now have to clear two spots to make the claims official. Whether that comes through additional cuts or by moving players to injured reserve, the move signals that New Orleans is still looking for answers in the trenches before the games start to count. [Read more 🡒]