Jimmy Graham Injury: Updates on Seahawks Star's Knee and Return

Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham left Week 12 against the Pittsburgh Steelers with a knee injury. Graham's right leg was placed in an air cast after going down on a pass to the end zone in the fourth quarter. 

He underwent season-ending surgery on his patellar tendon on Dec. 2.

Continue for updates.

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Latest on Graham's Recovery Timeline

Friday, Dec. 11 

Head coach Pete Carroll said Graham has returned to Seattle to rehab from his surgery and is on track to return for next year's season opener, per Gregg Bell of the Tacoma News Tribune.  

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Carroll Comments on Graham's Surgery

Friday, Dec. 4

 Carroll said Graham's surgery went "really well," per Seahawks digital media reporter John Boyle.

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Graham Placed on IR, Expected to Be Ready For Start of 2016 Season

Monday, Nov. 30

Defensive tackle A.J. Francis was signed from the practice squad to replace Graham, who was officially placed on the injured reserve list.

Carroll "absolutely" expects Graham to return for the beginning of next season, per Liz Mathews of 710 ESPN in Seattle. 

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Graham Out for Season with Torn Patellar Tendon

Sunday, Nov. 29

Carroll said Graham will need surgery on his patellar.

"We're gonna miss the heck out of him for the rest of the season," said Carroll. 

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Seahawks Will Miss Graham Despite TE's Underwhelming Season

Graham is undoubtedly one of the NFL's best tight ends. He may offer next to nothing in terms of blocking—a problem the Seahawks found out about quickly—but that's not much of a concern, considering how good of a pass-catcher he is.

One of the knocks on Graham, however, has always been his inability to stay on the field. Last year, when Graham was a member of the New Orleans Saints, one of his current teammates went so far as to call him "soft," per Bleacher Report's Mike Freeman:

While the 29-year-old has appeared in 78 regular-season games over the last five years, only 50 of those appearances were starts.

This most recent malady will do nothing to shed the perception of Graham being injury-prone, whether it's a fair conclusion or not.

Given the Seahawks coaches' at-times quizzical Graham usage this year, it's difficult to forecast how his absence will impact the offense. The three-time Pro Bowler has been almost invisible in a few of the team's games, which was surprising given how much Seattle gave up in order to acquire him.

Graham entered Sunday second on the team in receiving yards behind Doug Baldwin, but you can't help feeling he is still being underutilized.

Prior to Graham's arrival, Russell Wilson didn't exactly have a full complement of dynamic playmakers to help him in the passing game. Percy Harvin was the closest thing, and he played just six games with the Seahawks over his year-and-a-half with the team.

Because of that, Wilson should be able to survive without one of his leading receivers. Thomas Rawls has emerged at running back after Marshawn Lynch's injury (abdomen), and the Seahawks might rely more on the ground game to compensate for Graham's injury.