RENTON — Seattle Seahawks tight end Jimmy Graham insisted Friday that any frustration he may have with his new team comes purely from losing the first two games of the season.
Graham responded to reports that he’s frustrated with his role after having just one catch for 11 yards in the Seahawks’ 27-17 loss at Green Bay on Sunday night.
“I’m not really sure where all these articles started especially since I said nothing to nobody,” Graham said. “Usually, I figure to write a story you have to have some type of source, which should be me, and it certainly wasn’t.”
The former New Orleans star caught six passes for 51 yards and a touchdown in the opener against St. Louis. Graham was then targeted just two times last week against the Packers. Head coach Pete Carroll said they had planned to get Graham the ball more often and it just didn’t happen.
“We were trying to go to him four out of the first five passes,” Carroll said. “It’s just the way it’s worked out. I’m not panicked by that at all. It sounds like some of the people are worried about it but we’re working at it. It’s going to get worked out and we just want him to be a factor and contribute just like he wants to desperately.”
Graham, acquired in an offseason trade with the Saints, is fully aware that Seattle’s offense is more run-oriented than the pass happy attack he was a part of in New Orleans.
“I’m doing what’s asked of me. I know my opportunities are going to come and I know my moments are going to come and I know I’ll be ready when they do come my way,” Graham said. “This team runs the ball. We’re not slinging the ball 60 times a game. And if we are, then that means we’re in trouble. I’m just going to keep doing what is asked of me.”
Graham was expected to help the Seahawks be more explosive in the passing game. Graham’s 6-foot-7 frame gives Russell Wilson a big target that he hasn’t had in the last three seasons in Seattle. However, a variety of circumstances kept the two from hooking up more frequently last week.
“There’s plays where he’s the primary target and the ball goes elsewhere,” offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. “Guys do different things in coverage. The quarterback looks a different way. Protection breaks down and (Wilson) can’t hang on to it long enough, so there’s so many things.
“We want Jimmy involved in our offense. There’s no question about it. We want him to make catches. We know that he’ll do great things for us.”
Graham averaged nearly 89 catches and 1,100 yards a season over his last four years in New Orleans. He has just seven catches for 62 yards in two games in Seattle. Ultimately, Graham says he just wants to start winning games and the rest will take care of itself.
“I like to win and I hate to lose. Frustration comes because we’re 0-2 and we’re a lot better than that,” he said.
Notes: S Kam Chancellor is expected to play Sunday after returning to the team this week following an extended holdout. … CB Tharold Simon (toe) and S Steven Terrell (hip) are out. … RB Marshawn Lynch (calf) did not practice Wednesday or Friday and is expected to be a game-time decision against Chicago. He is listed as questionable. … TE Luke Willson (back) is also questionable after missing practice on Friday.
