Saints Cut Rookie Receiver Chris Tyree at Halftime of Preseason Game
Chris Tyree stood on the sideline in street clothes at SoFi Stadium on August 10. The undrafted receiver from Virginia watched his teammates jog to the locker room for halftime adjustments. An undisclosed injury had already sidelined him from the preseason opener against the Chargers.
Nick Underhill broke the news on social media while the team was still in the locker room: New Orleans had waived him with an injury designation. The timing was brutal even by NFL standards. Teams typically announce roster moves after morning practice or before players arrive at the facility, not during halftime of live competition.
The Saints trailed 9-3 at the time.
The Business Reality for Undrafted Players
Making roster decisions during active games is virtually unheard of in the NFL. This decision sent a clear message about how little margin exists for undrafted players carrying minimal guaranteed money.
Tyree’s contract laid out the financial reality. Three years, $2.975 million total, but only $30,000 to $85,000 guaranteed. Once the injury occurred during camp, New Orleans had almost no financial reason to hold a roster spot. Offensive linemen Will Clapp and Trevor Penning both required carts during the 27-13 loss, and receiver Bub Means went down in the third quarter. Bodies were dropping, spots were needed.
All 31 teams had 24 hours to claim Tyree off waivers and absorb his contract. Nobody submitted a claim. After clearing waivers on August 11, both sides reached a settlement the next day. He walked away with roughly $91,667, just 3% of his total contract value, plus his freedom to sign elsewhere once healthy. Most undrafted rookies who suffer training camp injuries follow this same path rather than taking up an injured reserve spot on the 53-man roster. NFL teams don’t carry developmental players who can’t practice.
The Virginia Transfer That Destroyed His Draft Stock
The Saints took a gamble on damaged goods. Virginia’s 2024 season was supposed to showcase Tyree’s skills in a spread offense closer to his Chester, Virginia home. Instead, foot and groin problems derailed everything. Twenty-four catches for 136 yards across 10 games gave NFL scouts nothing to get excited about. The breakdown revealed the problem: thirteen catches on screens for 30 yards, and just one reception on six targets downfield. His speed never showed up on tape.
The previous year at Notre Dame painted a completely different picture. After three years as a running back, the position switch to wide receiver paid immediate dividends. He led the Fighting Irish with 26 receptions for 484 yards, averaging 18.6 yards per catch. That average ranked 15th nationally and displayed the big play ability that made him a five star recruit out of Thomas Dale High School.
His special teams value showed up in the biggest moments. An 82-yard punt return touchdown against Pittsburgh and a 96-yard kickoff return score against Wisconsin proved he could flip games instantly.
That statistical versatility put him in rare company at Notre Dame. Only four players in program history have scored touchdowns rushing, receiving, and on both punt and kick returns: Tim Brown, Rocket Ismail, Julius Jones, and now Chris Tyree. The achievement meant something. But NFL teams evaluate the present, not the past. Durability concerns from Virginia raised red flags. Scout reports noted he still relied on athleticism rather than refined route technique to create separation. All 32 teams passed when the 2025 draft rolled around.
Elite Speed Keeps Him in the Conversation
His Pro Day performance? Elite across the board. The 4.39 in the 40-yard dash would rank among the fastest receivers in any draft class. He posted a 42-inch vertical that would have led all receivers at the NFL Combine, then backed it up with a 10-foot-7 broad jump. Speed and explosiveness scouts can’t teach.
Baltimore brought him in for a workout on October 10, two months after his release. The workout confirmed he’s healthy enough to compete again and at least one team still sees potential value on special teams and as a gadget player who can stretch defenses vertically.
New Orleans has found success with undrafted specialists before. Players like Deonte Harty and Rashid Shaheed both made the team as return men and offensive weapons. The Saints’ blueprint for undrafted specialists exists for players who can flip field position and create explosive plays in the return game. Tyree hoped to follow that path, but training camp health issues ended his opportunity before it started.
Practice Squad Reality
The transfer to Virginia was strategic, aimed at more targets in a pass-heavy scheme. Physical problems sabotaged that final college season. Another setback ended his shot with New Orleans before he could compete for a roster spot.
Practice squad opportunities represent his most realistic path back now. Teams value explosive playmakers and special teams ability on developmental rosters. He needs to stay healthy long enough to prove the explosiveness still exists after multiple leg problems over the past two seasons. That remains his biggest obstacle. One workout with Baltimore shows the door isn’t completely closed. But competing for practice squad spots is a long way from the five star recruit who chose Notre Dame over Alabama, Oklahoma, and Georgia.
The margin separating roster players from free agents barely exists for undrafted rookies. A single injury during the wrong week of training camp ends everything. And just like that, Chris Tyree learned that lesson at halftime of a preseason game he couldn’t even suit up for, watching from the sideline as his opportunity disappeared before his NFL career could truly begin.
