The Pittsburgh Steelers are now fully submerged in the draft process in a very pivotal year. General Manager Omar Khan has made the team much younger than it was in the 2025 season after he loaded up on aging veterans hoping to keep their careers alive. Now, it's time for more of a youth movement. Some big moves were made in free agency, but Khan knows that he can't be looking at the past. He has to stay focused on building for the future and making sure the team has a solid core for years to come.
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General Manager of the Pittsburgh Steelers Omar Khan walks the field before an NFL football game between the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Kansas City Chiefs, Wednesday, Dec. 25, 2024, in Pittsburgh.
Some of that draft process could involve taking a risk on an injured prospect. ESPN analyst Matt Miller explained what he heard from a scout on one of the top players on Pittsburgh's projected draft board.
"Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson opted to not work out at the combine and will not participate in Friday's pro day, but a scout told me he will work out for teams on April 17," Miller wrote. "That's just six days before the start of Round 1, and Field [Yates] reported Wednesday that Tyson will do only positional work. A potential top-15 pick, Tyson has been plagued by hamstring injuries that limited his 2025 season to just nine games."
Jordyn Tyson is seen as one of the top three wide receivers in a very deep 2026 draft class. This hamstring injury could hurt his chances; however, as muscle injuries like that are very finicky. If it's still affecting him during this stage of the offseason as he prepares for the draft, questions about his ability to play may linger into rookie camp, and who knows when it will stop?
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Arizona State wide receiver Jordyn Tyson stands on the field after making a play during a collegiate football game that took place at the home of the Sun Devils in Tempe, AZ.
According to the unnamed scout, Tyson will work out before the draft, but there is no certainty that he will be 100% healthy during that time. He has just shy of three weeks before his scheduled workout to rest and heal up as much as possible before then. Hopefully for his sake, skipping his Pro Day and waiting as long as possible is exactly what he needs to participate at full speed.
Pro Days usually do not mean a ton for a top prospects' draft stocks, but that may end up being the case here for Tyson. If he plays well and shows little-to-no limitations from his injury, he could get drafted closer to Pick 10, where the Steelers would have to give up a lot of draft capital if they want to snag him. If he is visibly injured, he could maybe fall past Pittsburgh at Pick 21 and not even be the third receiver taken off the board.
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Arizona State Sun Devils wide receiver Jordyn Tyson takes a moment to reflect prior to a collegiate football game.
The timing for this hamstring injury could not have been much worse. If he pushes himself too hard in this workout and/or in rookie minicamp, this injury could linger on throughout the rest of the offseason into training camp. If he has to miss time then, he's going to have a lot of catching up to do. A nagging issue like this could result in a snowball effect that hurts his rookie season entirely.
Steelers May Be Willing To Give Tyson A Ton Of Time
In previous years, the Steelers have not been really willing to let rookies receive a starter's workload with a few exceptions. That may be the case with the new coaching staff, as Roman Wilson is expected to be the WR3 in Week 1. That would make sure Tyson is a backup no matter which receiver position he's listed at, and that will allow him to get plenty of mental reps while making sure his hamstring is 100%.
What do you think about Tyson's update on his workouts and injury? Let us know on X at @Steelers_ChrisB.
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