NFL Player News

Saints coach Sean Payton thinks tight end Jimmy Graham will be able to manage the pain from his partially torn fascia, which limited Graham to 18 snaps Sunday.

“I think from a pain standpoint, my understanding is it can begin to diminish,” Payton said, via ESPN.com. “I know this – we’re not gonna sit here week to week discussing it. But I think it’s something he’ll be able to manage.”

Graham made the most of his snaps, catching a pair of touchdowns against Buffalo. He's expected to play Week 9 at the Jets.

The Packers got a slew of offensive contributions in their easy win in Minnesota. Among them, tight end Andrew Quarless caught both his targets for 13 yards, and fullback John Kuhn hauled in one of his two targets for 7 yards.

Quarless started for Jermichael Finley, who's out indefinitely with a neck injury.

The Redskins received minor contributions from several key role players during Sunday's loss to the Broncos in Week 8.

In the passing game, wide receiver Josh Morgan caught a pass from Robert Griffin III for a gain of 3 yards. Wide receiver Aldrick Robinson and tight end Logan Paulsen were each held without a reception. Robinson was targeted once while Paulsen had two targets in a 45-21 defeat.

When your backup quarterback is your leading rusher, you know you've had a bad game. But that was the sad reality for the Jets in Cincinnati on Sunday, when Matt Simms paced the team with 35 yards on three attempts. Simms was 3 of 7 passing for 17 yards.

Simms was one of several meager contributors in the 49-9 loss. Among the others was running back Alex Green, who added 20 yards on three carries and one reception for 7 yards.

Also catching passes were tight ends Zach Sudfeld (2-10) and Jeff Cumberland (1-9). Sudfeld was a surprise co-starter at that position.

The Eagles received minor contributions from running back Bryce Brown, tight end James Casey and wide receiver Damaris Johnson Week 8 vs. N.Y. Giants. 

Brown had three carries for minus-1 yard and one catch for 2 yards. Casey had one catch for 11 yards and Johnson had one catch for 6 yards.

The Eagles are back in action Week 9 at Oakland.

Eagles tight ends Brent Celek and Zach Ertz combined for three catches during a 15-7 loss Week 8 vs. N.Y. Giants. Celek totaled two catches for 17 yards, while Ertz had one catch for 5 yards.

Celek was targeted three times, while Ertz was targeted four times. Celek's first target on the team's opening drive was picked off because of a miscommunication with quarterback Michael Vick, who eventually left the game late in the first quarter after aggravating a hamstring injury. Half of Ertz's targets came from rookie quarterback Matt Barkley, who replaced Vick.

The Eagles are back in action Week 9 at Oakland. Barkley might have to start next week, if Vick and Nick Foles (concussion) are out.

Lions tight end Brandon Pettigrew had a decent performance Sunday during a win over the Cowboys in the Week 8 game. 

Pettigrew caught three passes for 31 yards in the game. He was targeted six times overall by quarterback Matthew Stafford. 

The 28-year-old Pettigrew has six catches for 38 yards and a touchdown in his last two games. The Lions have a bye Week 9 and return Week 10 at Chicago. 

Though his partially torn fascia kept him off the field periodically Week 8 against the Bills, Saints tight end Jimmy Graham didn't appear hobbled by the injury, twice fighting his way into the end zone -- first on 15-yard pass in which he ran over a defender for the score and later on a 13-yarder in which he stretched the ball over the goal line. He felt good enough after the second touchdown to celebrate with a trademark dunk over the goal post.

"Oh no, I still dunked it," Graham told The Times-Picayune. "But I dunked off my right foot, because I can do both. So this time I just jumped off the right foot and dunked with the left [hand]. There will never be a moment I won't dunk it."

In all, Graham had three catches for 37 yards. He was targeted only three times, though he hardly played in the fourth quarter with the Saints leading by multiple scores.

"I'm very competitive," he said. "I want as many opportunities as I can get to help this team. But I'm just going to do what they ask me to do and what my body allows me to do. So we're going to take this day by day still."

Graham has said his availability going forward would be a question of pain tolerance. The Saints visit the Jets in Week 9.

Browns tight end MarQueis Gray caught the first pass of the day for the Browns on Sunday -- for five yards -- and was shut out the rest of the game. 

The reception was Gray's first of the season. He had just one target. 

The Browns return home in Week 9 to face the Ravens.  

The Jaguars had several minor-contributing receivers during the Week 8 blowout loss to the 49ers from London Sunday. Quarterback Chad Henne managed to spread the ball around.

Fullback Will Ta'ufo'ou had three grabs for 3 yards on three targets in the game. Justin Forsett added three catches for 6 yards on three targets.

Ace Sanders, Clay Harbor and Marcedes Lewis each had one catch apiece in the game. Sanders went for 11 yards, Harbor 7 and Lewis 6. Only Lewis saw more than one target. The Jaguars have a bye Week 9 and return Week 10 at Tennessee.