Jimmy Graham says shoulder injury still bothering him

New Orleans Saints star tight end Jimmy Graham didn’t miss any games last season despite slogging through an injury, and it looks like it will be a similar story for the 6’7″, 265-pound beast. Graham probably should have missed a week earlier this year with a shoulder injury, but he lived up to his billing as one of the toughest players in the NFL by showing no intention to sit on the bench. He suited up as a decoy in a huge game against the Detroit Lions, but he wasn’t even used in third-down or red zone situations, finishing with a grand total of zero catches.

According to the Baton Rouge Advocate’s Nick Underhill, Graham admitted that he has been fighting through pain from the shoulder injury this season, and it makes you wonder if he would have been better off being a little less tough and sitting out a game or two to help him out in the long haul. Calvin Johnson did this after battling through an ankle injury, and he’s looked better than ever lately.

Graham said, “At times this year the shoulder has really held me back sometimes. Other times I’m able to fight through the pain. I just got to man up and keep doing it.”

The elite TE also added that he’s felt the pain “every day”, and I don’t think this surprises anyone, even if we haven’t consciously thought about it. That said, his lack of targets last week was down to the Pittsburgh Steelers over-covering him, because they simply left themselves vulnerable to Drew Brees picking them apart with his other weapons, particularly deep threat Kenny Stills.

Graham has 65 receptions and nine touchdowns this season, and he’s been extremely consistent despite only having one 100-yard outing.

More from NFL Spin Zone

Home/New Orleans Saints