The New Orleans Saints have officially opened the practice windows for a pair of key players who have spent the majority of their seasons on injured reserve.
Both rookie WR Jordyn Tyson (hamstring) and LT Kelvin Banks (ankle surgery) participated in practice on Wednesday for the first time since their respective injuries. Tyson, the No. 8 pick in the most recent draft, has been out since going down during a joint practice with the Jaguars on Aug. 13. Banks has been out since suffering a high ankle sprain late in the Week 2 loss to the Ravens.
“This is [Tyson's] first opportunity to be out on the field with our team," Moore said, "so it was good to see him, get him out there in a limited capacity and we’ll just see how this whole week goes."
Moore said early in the week that both players could potentially return. RB Travis Etienne (hamstring) is the other injured player to watch, and there is optimism he could be ready to go as early as Week 10. The lone player who was not seen during the practice was RB Alvin Kamara, who had been dealing with a back injury in the weeks leading into the bye.
The Saints have also added RB Audric Estime off waivers from the Browns. Estime was with the Saints for the second half of the 2025 season and battled his way onto the roster out of camp, but was released from IR with an injury settlement and spent time with the Vikings prior to his short stint with Cleveland.
Here's how the Saints' initial injury report broke down on Wednesday:
LP = limited participation; FP = full participation; DNP = did not participate
- OT Kelvin Banks (ankle): LP
- RB CJ Donaldson (shoulder/concussion): LP
- CB Martin Emerson (shin): LP
- RB Alvin Kamara (NIR-rest/back): DNP
- S Justin Reid (concussion): FP
- OT Asim Richards (thumb): LP
- RG Cesar Ruiz (knee): FP
- DT Nathan Shepherd (illness): FP
- WR Jordyn Tyson (hamstring): LP
Banks' return would look to be somewhat ahead of schedule, less than 2 months removed from surgery. The Saints will have up to 21 days to add both Tyson and Banks to the active roster, which means both could be held out in Week 9 as they work back to form. Both players were participating in drills during the period of practice open to the media.
The Saints have turned to Asim Richards in Banks' absence, who has started the past five games at left tackle. Richards was listed as limited due to a thumb injury, which he played through against the Steelers in Paris. Cesar Ruiz was also a full participant after missed Week 7 with a knee injury.
Tyson's return would add another dynamic piece to a passing attack that has been highly productive without him, led by second-year QB Tyler Shough. Both WR Chris Olave (49 catches, 636 yards, 2 TDs) and Devaughn Vele (33 catches, 348 yards, 3 TDs) are on pace for career seasons.
The biggest injury question of the week will be handled by the Browns, with Deshaun Watson landing in the concussion protocol after developing symptoms on Monday. Watson took a hit to the head in the first quarter of their Week 8 loss to the Steelers, but was cleared and returned to the game. The team said he was also cleared on Monday, but developed symptoms in the evening.
Here's how their injury report broke down:
- OT Austin Barber (calf): DNP
- WR Denzel Boston (calf): LP
- DT Maliek Collins (elbow): DNP
- CB Myles Harden (hamstring): LP
- C Elgton Jenkins (knee): LP
- LB Carson Schwesinger (wrist/ankle): LP
- DE Jared Verse (knee): LP
- QB Deshaun Watson (concussion): DNP
- LB Quincy Williams (hamstring): DNP
The Saints (2-5) host the Browns (5-3) at noon, Sunday inside the Caesars Superdome. Catch all the action on WWL and Audacy.
