Jimmy Graham Injury: Updates on Seahawks Star's Recovery from Knee Surgery

Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham underwent season-ending knee surgery that cut short his 2015 campaign. However, he is ready to return to game action.

Continue for updates.

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Graham Active vs. Dolphins

Sunday, Sept. 11

John Boyle of the Seahawks' official website noted that Graham is not among Seattle's inactives versus Miami.

Earlier in the day, NFL Network's Ian Rapoport (via Around the NFL) reported that "Graham will play but won't have a full set of snaps" against the Dolphins.

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Latest on Graham's Practice Status

Thursday, Sept. 8

Graham was a full participant in practice for the second consecutive day on Thursday, per Omar Kelly of the Sun Sentinel.

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Carroll Comments on Graham's Recovery

Friday, Aug. 26

Carroll said Graham was "all lit up" in excitement following the pregame workout he took part in ahead of the Seahawks' game against the Dallas Cowboys on Aug. 25, per Condotta.

"Really we're shooting for where is he at the start of the season?" Carroll said Aug. 25, per the Associated Press (h/t CSN Bay Area). "We'll evaluate then how much longer it may take, or he may be ready. We don't know that yet. But he feels good, and he's confident it's going along well."

"We've had no issues at all in the work he's doing on the field," Carroll said Aug. 17, per Sheil Kapadia of ESPN.com. "That will continue to increase throughout the next few weeks."

On Aug. 9, Carroll said Graham is "right at the edge of getting back," per Dave Boling of the News Tribune.

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Graham's Explosiveness in Question

Friday, Aug. 12

Bleacher Report's Jason Cole reported the Seahawks are concerned about Graham's play after knee surgery:

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Graham Comments on Recovery from Surgery

Wednesday, Aug. 10

Gregg Bell of the News Tribune provided Graham's comments on his recovery process:

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Graham on the Physically Unable to Perform List

Saturday, July 30

Seahawks digital media reporter John Boyle tweeted that Carroll confirmed Graham will start training camp on the PUP list but also noted he "sounds very encouraged" about the tight end's progress.

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Graham Remains Elite Despite 2015 Struggles

Graham, 29, is one of the league's most dangerous offensive threats when healthy. That never quite happened in his first season with the Seahawks, however, as a new scheme and injury issues limited him to 48 receptions for 605 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.

While his stats were hardly shoddy, they're a far cry from the production Graham posted in the four prior seasons, when he averaged 89 receptions, 1,099 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns per season. Those are numbers most wide receivers would be thrilled with, let alone tight ends. And only the New England Patriots' Rob Gronkowski has established himself as a more dangerous weapon at the position.

Still, injuries are a major concern. While Graham missed just one game between 2011 and 2014, he was often hobbled with various injuries and wasn't always 100 percent. That came to a head in 2015, when he suffered a ruptured patellar tendon in late November and missed the remainder of the season.

The Seahawks need Graham to be a huge part of their offense. While quarterback Russell Wilson is excellent, wide receiver Tyler Lockett is emerging as a playmaker and running back Thomas Rawls looks like a solid replacement for the retired Marshawn Lynch, few players in the NFL offer the mismatch Graham does.

The 6'7", 265-pound target is too big for most corners or safeties to handle, while few linebackers can match his speed and athleticism. He's dominant down the seam and in the red zone, where his ability to go up and over defenders makes him a security blanket for Wilson.

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