The New Orleans Saints activated veteran tight end Jimmy Graham for Sunday’s kickoff, the first game he’ll appear in since Week 7’s loss to the Jacksonville Jaguars. Can he make an impact against the Detroit Lions?
Graham returned to New Orleans with much fanfare at the start of training camp, but the vision of his reunion hasn’t lived up to the reality. Graham logged more snaps as a run blocker (73) than as a route-runner (61) through his first seven games back in black and gold.
And his role diminished further once Juwan Johnson returned from a calf injury early this season. Graham isn’t as fleet of foot as Johnson nor as effective a blocker as Foster Moreau, and there are few snaps to go around with Taysom Hill mixing in at tight end at times, too.
But injuries to the receiving corps have opened new opportunities for him. Starters Michael Thomas and Rashid Shaheed are both sidelined for Week 13 so the Saints could use Graham as a receiver in the slot or out wide. He’s only been thrown to twice this season but his lone catch gained 8 yards to score a touchdown. Let’s see what he has left in the tank.
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