Troubling injury update on Jets draft target raises serious concerns

The New York Jets are expected to explore the wide receiver market in the 2026 NFL Draft, with a trio of prospects atop their list of potential targets. The likes of Arizona State's Jordyn Tyson, Ohio State's Carnell Tate, and USC's Makai Lemon are widely seen as the top tier of wide receivers in this year's draft class.

The Jets are expected to use at least one of their top four picks (Nos. 2, 16, 33, and 44 overall) to address the position, with the No. 16 selection widely viewed as a prime spot to land a wide receiver, possibly one of the top trio of names listed above.

That said, there’s no guarantee Tyson, Tate, or Lemon will be available at that spot. If one of them does fall to No. 16, however, it could be Tyson — though not for the reasons Jets fans might hope.

The Athletic's Dane Brugler provided a concerning update on Tyson's injury status in a recent edition of The Athletic Football Show. Tyson's extensive injury history has been a topic of discussion throughout the pre-draft process, and it threatens to tank his draft stock.

Jordyn Tyson injury update could be bad news for the Jets' draft plans

Tyson battled a hamstring injury throughout much of the 2025 season, missing a handful of games in the process. According to Brugler, it appears the Arizona State wideout still hasn't fully recovered.

Tyson was unable to work out at the NFL Combine earlier this offseason, and Brugler is now reporting that he's not expected to participate in his Pro Day on March 27 either. That's a very concerning timeline, given that Tyson originally sustained the injury back in October.

It's even more troubling when you consider his hefty injury history prior to 2025. Tyson suffered a torn ACL, MCL, and PCL back in 2022, missed almost all of 2023 due to the injury, and broke his collarbone the following year in 2024. He missed time due to various injuries in all four years of his college career.

If not for the injuries, Tyson might be considered the consensus best wide receiver in this year's class. The two-time first-team All-Big 12 recipient has been compared to NFL stars like Stefon Diggs and Amari Cooper because of his smooth athleticism and elite route-running.

Unfortunately, availability matters, and a history of soft-tissue injuries — combined with multiple serious ailments — will give teams considerable pause. The Jets might be one of those teams that expresses hesitation, even if he makes it to pick 16.

There’s absolutely a scenario where Indiana wide receiver Omar Cooper Jr., one of the fastest-rising prospects in this class, is drafted ahead of Tyson by the time April rolls around. Tyson’s medicals could become one of the most fascinating storylines of the draft.

That's far from ideal for a Jets team that is likely to be eyeing a wide receiver in the first round. Tyson may still be on their radar, but there may be a bit more interference than there used to be.