Jimmy Graham injury update: Seahawks TE activated off PUP, but Victor Cruz serves as a reminder to proceed with caution

The Seattle Seahawks have activated tight end Jimmy Graham off of the PUP and he was seen on the field suited up for practice on Wednesday.

Graham has not participated in anything other than rehab since tearing his patellar tendon against the Pittsburgh Steelers last season. That particular knee injury is considered one of the most damaging of any you’d typically see on a football field, having plagued New York Giants receiver Victor Cruz over the last two years. Cruz tore his patellar tendon on October 12, 2014. He has missed all 26 games since that day. Last year, Cruz suffered what was considered a minor calf injury in training camp and he was ultimately placed on injured reserve in November.

This week, Cruz missed practice on Tuesday after experiencing tightness in his groin.

Who knows how the next few weeks will go for Graham, but the plan is for him to be ready to play in Week 1, not to participate in any preseason games or too many practice drills. That being said, you can’t put off the inevitable, which is that Graham is going to take a lot of hits this year as any football player would, and sometimes being too cautious or afraid can be just as dangerous.

Graham caught 48 passes for 605 yards and two touchdowns last season. The return of Paul Richardson, the development of Tyler Lockett, the re-signing of Jermaine Kearse, the breakout of Doug Baldwin, the health of Thomas Rawls, and the drafting of Nick Vannett and C.J. Prosise should take pressure off of Graham to be the focal point of the offense however, and more of a red zone/first down threat. He may not even gain 800 yards this season, but that doesn’t mean Graham can’t be just as deadly.