Seattle TE Jimmy Graham suffers patellar tendon injury
SEATTLE (AP) Jimmy Graham's rocky season of finding his role with a new offense in Seattle came to an unexpectedly early conclusion on Sunday.
Graham will miss the remainder of the regular season after suffering an injury to the patellar tendon in his right knee in Sunday's 39-30 win over Pittsburgh.
Seattle coach Pete Carroll didn't get into specifics of Graham's injury, but said it requires surgery and he will miss the rest of the season.
''We're going to miss the heck out of him the rest of the season,'' Carroll said. ''He's been a fantastic addition to us and you saw him again today doing stuff. He was going to have a huge day if he was able to stay out there.''
Graham was hurt with 13:36 left in the fourth quarter after trying to grab a deep pass in the end zone from Russell Wilson. Graham landed awkwardly as he attempted to reach behind him to catch the pass.
Graham immediately signaled for trainers and was in significant discomfort on the ground. Trainers placed an air cast on Graham's right leg and he was taken off the field on a cart.
''To lose Jimmy today is a heartbreaker because he's such a great football player,'' Wilson said.
Graham wasn't about to have the same role that he did in New Orleans before being traded in the offseason to Seattle because of the differences in the two offenses.
There were questions of what his role was supposed to be after Graham caught just one pass in Week 2 against Green Bay.
But as the season progressed, Graham became more involved, even if it didn't always show up in the receptions category. He was targeted 12 times in Week 6 against Carolina and 10 times two weeks later against Dallas.
Before getting hurt, Graham was on pace for 70 receptions and 880 yards. The one area where his numbers were down significantly was touchdowns. Graham finished the season with just two TD catches.
Before getting hurt, Graham made one of the biggest plays of Sunday's win, hauling in a juggling 36-yard reception in the third quarter at the Pittsburgh 1 that set up Thomas Rawls' touchdown run. Graham had four catches for 75 yards against the Steelers.
''I know Jimmy and he's probably down right now, but I've gotten to know him these past six, seven months. He'll attack this rehab and be back next year,'' Seattle tight end Luke Willson said.
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