Jordyn Tyson's return from IR could be jolt Saints need in wide-open NFC South

Rookie wideout Jordyn Tyson's return from IR gives life to struggling Saints in weak NFC South

Entering Week 9, all four NFC South teams have a losing record. And while the Saints (2-5) sit in last, that could change in a hurry. This Sunday, New Orleans is the only divisional squad that isn't an underdog. As of Wednesday, the Saints are a three-point favorite over the Browns, who could start second-year quarterback Shedeur Sanders after Deshaun Watson was placed in the concussion protocol a day earlier.

The division-leading Carolina Panthers (3-4) are a 2.5-point home underdog to the Denver Broncos (6-2), while the Cincinnati Bengals (5-2) are three-point road favorites against the Atlanta Falcons (3-5). The Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-5) are six-point underdogs to the Chicago Bears (6-2), who they play Sunday evening at Soldier Field.

If oddsmakers are correct, the Saints will enter Week 10's home game against the Panthers with first place in the division on the line.

But that's much easier said than done. New Orleans will have to win in the Caesars Superdome, where it is 0-3 this season. Tyson's potential availability would help, particularly against a Browns defense that plays to quarterback Tyler Shough's strength.

Per FTN Fantasy's Stats IQ, Shough has been best against man coverage, when he's completed 65 percent of his passes for 511 yards, five touchdowns and two interceptions. He ranks ninth in DVOA (Defense-adjusted Value Over Average), performing 14.6 percent better than a league-average baseline, as opposed to 15.4 percent worse when facing zone coverage. No team, meanwhile, plays man more often on defense than the Browns, who use the coverage at a 46 percent rate, according to Sumer Sports data.

During the predraft process, Tyson was praised for a release described as "NFL-ready" by Sports Info Solutions "with varying cadences and jabs that take advantage of the defender's leverage.

"His footwork at the top of his route is equally impressive," SIS continued, "with the ability to sink his hips and make quick cuts while having the savvy to set defenders up and force them to lean the wrong way."

The site added that Tyson was best in college at the intermediate level, where Shough thrives. NFL Pro data shows that the 2025 second-round pick ranks third in expected points added (EPA) per dropback on passes 10-19 yards downfield this season, completing 67.3 percent of his attempts, 11 percentage points over expected, fourth-best among qualified passers.

The rookie wideout could be an excellent complement opposite star wideout Chris Olave, giving a Saints passing attack that's the backbone of the offense extra juice.

For a team with little to celebrate over the first two months of the season besides the rest of the NFC South's ineptitude, getting Tyson back for the final half of the season is a step in the right direction. It's up to New Orleans to build on it.