In June, Green Bay Packers tight end Jimmy Graham committed to bouncing back in a big way in 2019 after a disappointing first year in Green Bay.
His comeback season is off to a rough start.
Through six games, Graham has caught 14 passes on 24 targets for just 149 yards and two touchdowns. He’s averaging 10.6 yards per catch and 24.8 yards per game, while catching only 58.3 percent of his targets and averaging 6.2 yards per target.
As poor as Graham’s 2018 season was, his 2019 season is on pace to be much worse.
If his current per-game averages continue, Graham will finish this season with fewer catches, receiving yards and first downs, all while catching a lower percentage of passes and averaging fewer yards per catch and per target in 2019.
| Jimmy Graham | 2018 | 2019 (on pace) |
| Receptions | 55 | 37 |
| Receiving Yards | 636 | 397 |
| Touchdowns | 2 | 5 |
| First downs | 32 | 24 |
| Yards per catch | 11.6 | 10.6 |
| Catch percentage | 61.8 | 58.3 |
| Yards per target | 7.1 | 6.2 |
On Monday night against the Detroit Lions, Graham caught two of five targets for just 17 yards. He dropped a touchdown pass from Aaron Rodgers and couldn’t make the play on a second one-on-one opportunity in the end zone in the second half, although he did haul in a tough catch for a first down on the Packers’ game-winning drive.
The impact plays have been few and far between. He currently has more catches under 8 yards (three) than catches over 15 yards (two), and more drops (three) than broken tackles (one).
Of the 122 NFL players with at least 20 targets this season, Graham ranks 95th in catch percentage (58.3), 99th in receiving yards (149) and yards per target (6.2) and 106th in receiving yards per game (24.8).
Meanwhile, Marcedes Lewis has nine catches on 12 targets (75 percent) for 119 yards (13.2 yards per catch). He’s averaging 9.9 yards per target with three catches over 20 yards, and he’s been the far better blocker. It’s clear who has been the best tight end on the Packers’ roster through six games.
Graham just doesn’t do any one thing consistently well anymore. He doesn’t run well, struggles to break tackles and no longer makes contested catches. Most teams have been content jamming him at the line and covering him one-on-one, usually with a safety. He has three red-zone catches, including two scores, but he’s also missed four other catchable opportunities in the end zone.
Graham’s bounce-back season hasn’t gotten off the ground. He has 10 more games to make something of it, but his first 22 games in Green Bay – and especially his first six games of 2019 – suggest a resurgence isn’t likely.
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