Saints tight end Jimmy Graham acknowledged that playing with a bum shoulder "was a battle every game," according to the Times-Picayune. Graham told reporters Friday he may need offseason shoulder surgery, depending on the results on an MRI exam, which he'll undergo as soon as the season comes to an end.
Graham injured his shoulder Week 5 against Tampa Bay but returned two weeks later without missing any game action. He has clearly not been the same since the injury and was on a snap count his first two games back.
"I'm not going to make any excuses for it," Graham said. "I think everyone plays hurt in this league. That's just a part of the job."
Graham has the fewest receiving yards since his rookie year in 2010. He needs 165 yards in Sunday's season finale against Tampa Bay in order to surpass the 1,000-yard threshold for the second consecutive season.