Should Jimmy Graham Play Right Away?
By Jacob Sosler
Tight end Jimmy Graham caused quite a stir when Seattle took the big money tight end off of the physically unable to perform (PUP) list and returned him to practice on Wednesday.
After arriving with a great deal of fanfare, the 29-year-old tight end disappointed in his first season in Seattle before tearing his patellar tendon on November 29th, ending his year. Despite the fact that a similar injury kept stars such as New York’s Victor Cruz out for substantial amounts of time, John Schneider and Pete Carroll repeatedly insisted that Graham would be ready to go for week one. As of now, they look true to their word.
Now, I’m not questioning Graham’s undeniable talents, nor his value to the Seahawks. However, even if Graham is ready to go, it might be better for both parties to sit him until he is 100%. In addition, Seattle benefits by getting a better look at the future of the tight end position.
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Previously, this injury has sidelined top athletes for significant time periods. Victor Cruz’s injury, suffered on October 12th, 2014, has kept him out for almost two full seasons. He still hasn’t returned to action. Arizona’s Ryan Williams, 2nd round pick, ruptured his patella during his 1st preseason. He missed the entire 2011 season and never returned to his Virginia Tech form before being released. Williams is now out of the league.
According to the American Journal of Sports Medicine (AJSM), 79% of NFL players who tore their patellar tendon come back to play in the NFL. However, the performance has been mixed. The AJSM study conducted in 2011 also states that “The most common mechanism of injury is eccentric overload.” If Graham plays before he’s 100 percent, he faces a greater risk of reinjury. If overused, Graham could experience future health problems.
Yes, Seattle is in a Super Bowl or bust mode right now, so resting a game changer like Jimmy Graham may not be the best idea. However, Seattle has the depth to survive. They proved this last year when the offensive production went bananas after Graham went down. The Seahawks may even benefit more by being able to better navigate the future of the position while utilizing their tremendous depth.
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Jimmy Graham may be practicing, but there are still lingering questions about his long-term health. Fearing a decline in performance, Seattle solidified their depth by drafting Ohio State’s Nick Vannett. Ohio State did not utilize Vannett as a pass-catcher, but he’s been wowing Seattle coaches with his soft hands, smooth route running and unbelievable playmaking abilities. While his blocking is exceptional, Seattle could experiment with Vannett as a pass catcher while Graham recovers.
In addition, TE Luke Willson is under contract for one more season. Willson has flashed immense promise, but the 4th year pro hasn’t broken through the depth chart yet. After other teams paid backups with similar potential (Ladarius Green, Coby Fleener etc.), it’s worth seeing what they truly have in Willson before letting him go in 2017.
If Willson and Vannett aren’t enough, Seattle may have unearthed a gem in Brandon Williams. Williams is standing out at training camp, despite only having four career receptions. He is doing his best to prove that he is a competent all-around tight end and special teams stud.
Seattle has the unique opportunity to see if Williams’ exceptional training camp was a mere aberration or a sign of better things to come. The only way to do this is to give Williams quality playing time in game action. Plus Williams can also play fullback when Jimmy Graham returns.
Next: Seahawks 53 man roster projection
It may be difficult to justify keeping an NFL superstar like Jimmy Graham on the bench during meaningful games. However, it’s what’s best for a franchise that is looking to maximize Russell Wilson’s prime and return to the Super Bowl.