There have only been two consistencies when it comes to Jimmy Graham's return season with the New Orleans Saints: Absences and rest days.
And that begs the question, if the veteran TE isn't playing on Sunday, why does he need rest days on Wednesday, which has been the case through each of the season's 13 weeks. Saints head coach Dennis Allen offered some insight into that dynamic this week.
“I think when you’ve got an older veteran player like that, you know, we kind of knew that coming in when we signed him," Allen said, "that’s kind of been the routine that he’s been through the last several years, so we’ve kind of been able to just stick to that routine."
After a year away from football, Graham rejoined the Saints this offseason to much fanfare, but his preseason was marred by an incident in L.A. that the team classified as a likely seizure. He seemed to get back on track with a touchdown catch in the preseason finale.
Graham was active for the Saints' first seven games and logged just two targets. One went for an 8-yard touchdown in a Week 3 loss to the Packers, the other a drop in a blowout win over the Patriots. The veteran TE hasn't been active since a Week 7 loss to the Jaguars on Thursday Night Football.
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With several offensive playmakers injured it's possibly that Graham makes his return to the lineup in Week 13. Coaches have been consistent that there is nothing medically or physically limiting him this season, and when he's needed he'd be available. The Saints will have both TEs Juwan Johnson and Foster Moreau, but they'll potentially be without their top three wide receivers if Chris Olave can't clear the concussion protocol ahead of the game. Michael Thomas is on IR with a knee injury and Rashid Shaheed was ruled out on Friday with a quad injury.
“I think there’s a potential we could see him,” Allen said of Graham.
The Saints (5-6) host the Lions (8-3) at the Caesars Superdome on Sunday.