Seahawks tight end Graham off PUP list, returns to practice
Published 4:30 pm Wednesday, August 10, 2016
By Nick Patterson
Herald Writer
RENTON — In his own words, Jimmy Graham has gone through “some dark days.”
The Seattle Seahawks tight end has endured both the physical and mental anguish that goes along with trying to recover from a devastating knee injury, one that ended his 2015 season and cast an ominous shadow over his 2016.
But on Wednesday Graham was finally able to step back into the light.
Graham’s injury-forced exile came to an end Wednesday when he was removed from the physically-unable-to-perform list and returned to practice, and now both he and the Seahawks believe the darkest days are behind him.
“I got goosebumps just walking out of that door,” Graham said about stepping onto the practice field at the Virginia Mason Athletic Center in his helmet and shoulder pads for the first time since last November.
“When you’re away from it as long as I’ve been, it’s very sweet when you get the opportunity to do it again.”
Graham suffered a torn patellar tendon in his right knee during Seattle’s 39-30 victory over Pittsburgh last Nov. 29. Not only did it end the three-time Pro Bowler’s season, it prevented him from being able to take part in any of Seattle’s offseason on-field activities.
But Graham was back on the field Wednesday on a limited basis, running routes and catching passes from quarterback Russell Wilson during individual drills.
Wednesday was the second straight day in which the Seahawks had a key offensive performer return to practice after a long injury layoff. On Tuesday presumptive starting running back Thomas Rawls returned to practice for the first time since December because of an ankle injury.
“I think it uplifts the whole team,” Seahawks offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said about getting Graham back. “Having a guy like Thomas back, having a guy like Jimmy back, it picks up everybody. I know it picks their spirits up as well.”
Graham was supposed to be an integral part of Seattle’s offense last season after arriving in the offseason in a blockbuster trade with the New Orleans Saints. Graham had a turbulent start to his Seahawks career, but he was just getting into his groove when the injury struck. He finished the season with 48 catches for 605 yards and two touchdowns in 11 games.
Graham underwent surgery, then had his leg immobilized for 11-12 weeks. That’s when the dark days set in.
“It’s been eight months and it’s been a constant eight months,” Graham said. “I’ve never been through something that every day you had to do something for it. Every day you wake up and until you go to bed you’re doing some type of rehab.
“I feel a lot of things have come easy, I’ve always been athletic and fast,” Graham added. “To have to learn how to walk again, it’s very humbling, that’s for sure. For me, I’ve learned patience. I’ve learned you just have to stay mentally strong every day and set goals and never get frustrated with the process, come to embrace the process.”
There’s been much chatter about how difficult it is for a player to recover from a torn patellar tendon. Many point to the struggles New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz has endured trying to get back to his previous level after suffering the same injury in 2014. Graham said he’s talked to both Cruz and former Saints teammate Jon Stinchcomb, who also suffered the injury, about how to approach rehabilitation.
But one thing that’s helped Graham, who’s slimmed down from 275 to 260 pounds, throughout the process has been the support of the Seahawks organization.
“It’s very interesting with this team,” Graham said. “A lot of teams, when you get hurt they kind of make you leave the building. They want you to get rehab somewhere else because they don’t want you lingering around. But this team and every one of my teammates has uplifted me the entire time. Richard Sherman every day comes in the training room and encourages me, and every time I’m out here running he steps out here. Luke Willson, Pat (McPherson, Seattle’s tight ends coach), everyone in the building has been nothing but positive and nothing but encouraging about everything. They say how much they need me and how much they can’t wait for me to be back. Just hearing that every day, all the love I get from this building, it definitely helps.”
There’s no timetable for when Graham may be able to return to game action. The hope all along has been that Graham will be ready in time for Seattle’s season opener Sept. 11 against Miami, and he said he’s “been running routes and cutting hard.” The Seahawks are taking a cautious approach, making sure Graham is fully healed before putting him into a game.
But returning to practice suggests the end of Graham’s tunnel is coming sooner rather than later.
Extra points
Graham wasn’t the only key offensive player back at practice. Receiver Doug Baldwin, who’s been out about a week after having the back of his ankle stepped on, was a limited participant Wednesday. … Rookie defensive tackle Jarran Reed is apparently OK after leaving Wednesday’s practice injured. Reed departed after suffering what appeared to be an injury to his left ankle during one-on-one drills. After getting up under his own power, Reed left the field on a cart, but he tweeted later in the day that he was “perfectly fine.” … First-team right tackle J’Marcus Webb sat out the end of practice with what appeared to be a minor knee injury. With Webb out, left tackle Garry Gilliam switched to the right side, with Bradley Sowell stepping in at left tackle with the first unit. … Several defensive starters were given the day off, with defensive ends Michael Bennett and Cliff Avril not participating in practice, while middle linebacker Bobby Wagner did not participate in scrimmaging. Players who missed practice because of injury included defensive tackles Jordan Hill (groin) and Sealver Siliga (calf), running backs C.J. Prosise (hamstring), Alex Collins (ankle) and Zach Brooks (hamstring), and receivers Kevin Smith (hamstring) and Kasen Williams (hamstring).
For more on the Seattle sports scene, check out Nick Patterson’s Seattle Sidelines blog at cmg-northwest2.go-vip.net/heraldnet/tag/seattle-sidelines, or follow him on Twitter at @NickHPatterson.
