METAIRIE, La. (AP) — Saints tight end Jimmy Graham returned to practice on Wednesday for the first time since his arrest in the Los Angeles area last week following what team officials have described as a “medical episode.”
“Certainly that was good to see, the type of day he had today,” Saints coach Dennis Allen said, noting catches Graham made crossing the middle of the field and inside the 20-yard line.
“He's a big target and made some plays in a contested environment," Allen added. “Things that I've seen him do in the past, I saw him do today, and that's a good sign.”
Dr. John Amoss, the Saints team physician, has said in a statement released by the Saints that Graham likely had a seizure and was disoriented when he was picked up by Newport Beach police on Friday night. The police report states that Graham was booked with misdemeanor charges of using a controlled substance without a prescription and resisting arrest.
Police took Graham to a hospital, where he was released into the Saints' care. Bail was set at $1,000.
The Saints had flown to California in the middle of last week for joint practices with the Los Angeles Chargers in advance of New Orleans’ 22-17 victory in both teams’ second preseason game on Sunday night.
Graham did not play in the game. The team had Monday off and Graham also missed practice on Tuesday.
Graham has not made any public statements since his arrest.
Allen has declined to go into detail about what ailed Graham over the weekend.
“I’m not going to get into any specifics,” Allen said after Graham had missed practice on Tuesday. “The important thing is Jimmy is going to be OK."
Graham, 36, is a five-time Pro Bowl player who spent last season out of football. He returned to the NFL last month when he signed a one-year contract with New Orleans.
He spent his first five NFL seasons with the Saints — and was an All-Pro in 2013 — before being traded to Seattle in 2015. He played three seasons for the Seahawks and also spent two seasons each with Green Bay and Chicago.
The Saints close out their preseason schedule at home against the Houston Texans on Sunday.
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