What led to Jimmy Graham and Trai Turner homecomings; positive health outlook for Michael Thomas and full Saints roster

Tuesday was like Christmas Eve and Homecoming wrapped into one, with the Saints signing tight end Jimmy Graham and guard Trai Turner on the day before their first training camp practice.

Graham, obviously, is one of the most dynamic offensive players in Saints history, returning eight years after he was traded to Seattle in 2015. Turner, meanwhile, is a NOLA native who played at St. Augustine High School and LSU before becoming a five-time Pro Bowler with the rival Panthers.

The best news that came out of Tuesday’s camp-opening press conference with coach Dennis Allen and general manager Mickey Loomis, however, is that they insisted neither veteran was signed because of any injury concerns at their positions.

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Allen said the team was still finishing physicals as of late Tuesday morning, so he didn’t have a full medical report. But, he said, “My anticipation is that we’ll have everybody available to participate in some form or fashion for practice tomorrow. So obviously that’s a good start.”

"Everybody" includes offensive tackle Trevor Penning and guard Cesar Ruiz, who are recovering from foot surgeries. It also includes receiver Michael Thomas. Allen confirmed NewOrleans.Football’s report from Monday, saying, “Our expectation is that Mike will be a full participant.”

“Look, he came in last Thursday, did his physical, went through the conditioning test, looked great, moved around awesome. He’s in good shape,” Allen said of Thomas.

Turner’s addition was more expected, since the Saints had an opening for veteran depth and competition after releasing center Billy Price with an injury designation last week. Graham’s signing, however, was more of a surprise that was well-received according to the avalanche of social media reaction. The Saints actually changed their Twitter bio to a photo of Graham and the words, “Jimmy Graham is BACK.”

What a time to be a New Orleans Saint ⚜️— Michael Thomas (@Cantguardmike) July 25, 2023

“Can’t wait to see y’all at Training Camp & in the Dome. Love you guys!”-@TheJimmyGraham on being back with the #Saints 👏 pic.twitter.com/DTGWjMmhRs— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) July 25, 2023

“Maybe I’ll get the respect of my daughter back, because she killed me when I traded him years ago,” Loomis joked.

Obviously, expectations should be tempered for Graham’s role since he is 36 years old and has been out of football since the end of the 2021 season, when he caught just 14 passes for 167 yards and three touchdowns for the Bears. But the Saints have been intrigued by the idea of this possible reunion for years because of his presence inside the building as well as inside the red zone. They also discussed the possibility last year.

Graham, meanwhile, has been picky about where he would like to keep playing, with the Saints at the top of an extremely short list.

“We really wanted to make sure Jimmy still had the desire to play, which he does. And then we brought him in yesterday for a workout, he looked great; he’s in great shape. And he wants to be here, he wants to play for the Saints,” Allen said. “We’ve got some young ascending players in that room in terms of Foster Moreau, Juwan Johnson (and others). And we felt like Jimmy was the perfect fit in that room.”

The 6-foot-7, 259-pounder caught 386 passes for 4,752 yards and 51 touchdowns in his historic first run with the Saints from 2010-2014, earning first-team All-Pro honors in 2013 and second-team in 2011. Unfortunately, he suffered a major knee injury with the Seahawks in 2015 and was never quite the same physically after that — though he did catch 10 TD passes with Seattle in 2017 and eight with Chicago in 2020. He also spent two years with the Packers from 2018-2019 and ranks fourth among tight ends in NFL history with 85 career TD catches.

“I was still thinking about playing last year and ended up turning down a couple teams,” Graham told the Pat McAfee show earlier this year. “Because for me, it’s about the right situation and the ability to mentor some young guys — and obviously just to catch fades in the red zone, because I’ve always been pretty good at that.”

Jimmy Graham is back. What does it mean?The Dot presented by Matt Bowers Auto Group pic.twitter.com/4Uh6j8KPSh— Nick Underhill (@nick_underhill) July 25, 2023

Turner, 30, is also beyond his prime years, now joining his fifth team in five years (starting all nine games he played in an injury-marred season with the Chargers in 2020, starting 17 games with the Steelers in 2021 and starting 12 of 16 games with the Commanders in 2022).

“We’ve played against him a lot,” Allen said. “He’s a big, physical offensive guard. I think that’s probably the No. 1 quality that we see in him is just the physicality he plays with, and we’ve had some good battles against him in the past.”

The Saints also signed veteran guard Max Garcia, as first reported by ESPN. Garcia, 31, has started 59 career games in eight seasons with the Broncos and Cardinals at guard and center, including seven starts with Arizona last season.

Both new linemen will join a crowded competition that includes Penning, Ruiz and veterans Andrus Peat and James Hurst potentially battling for three starting jobs at LT, LG and RG — in addition to rookie Nick Saldiveri, newly-signed veteran Storm Norton and incumbents backups like Calvin Throckmorton, Landon Young and Lewis Kidd battling for roles.

When asked about the rotating we saw between Peat and Hurst at LT and LG during minicamp, Allen said the Saints consider Hurst a starting-caliber talent at both positions.

“Having the versatility, having the depth, having the competition I think is all good,” Allen said.

Loomis said the team will continue to look at adding players to the roster but said there are no positions he would consider as “glaring” needs.

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Among other highlights from Allen and Loomis on Tuesday:

NAVIGATING THE HEAT: Allen said the extreme heat that has monopolized New Orleans this summer will play a factor in the team’s practice routine — whether that means more full practices or portions of practice moving indoors when needed.

“There’s an element to being here in New Orleans, having to deal with the heat, having to deal with the humidity, having to mentally push yourself through that … that I like. That’s part of developing a both physically and mentally tough football team,” Allen said. “But there’s also the health risk involved in that, so it’s a delicate balance.”

Allen said the team has continued to study injury data as it relates to the ideal practice schedule and when to incorporate days off etc. — as much as that can be controlled after two straight seasons derailed by a rash of injuries. Loomis said the Saints have actually decreased their number of soft-tissue injuries compared to previous years and other teams around the league.

NO WORD ON KAMARA’S STATUS: Allen and Loomis said they have not yet heard from the NFL on any potential suspension for running back Alvin Kamara now that his court case has been resolved regarding 2022 battery allegations in Las Vegas. But they will be prepared for any scenario.

KICKER/PUNTER BATTLES: Allen said there will be “some legitimate competition” at both kicker and punter this summer with incumbents Wil Lutz and Blake Gillikin being challenged by Blake Grupe and Lou Hedley.

“But that’s not so different than any other position we have. That’s by design,” Allen said. “We’ve tried to create as much competition in our football team as we can, because I think competition brings out the best in everybody. … It means you’ve got some good players. And really you get a chance to find out about the guys that are here in camp. Because look, we’re gonna get into some difficult situations during the season, and I want to find out who’s gonna rise to the occasion when we face those.”

MORE ON MIKE: Loomis added to the optimism surrounding Thomas this summer, though he jokingly made a “knock on wood” gesture to the side of his head, knowing his continued health will be the determining factor.

“I feel really good about where Mike’s at physically, and I know where he’s always been at in terms of his ability and his competitiveness and his desire to be out there. That’s never been in question,” Loomis said. “It’s just, ‘Can we get his health back to the point where he can do what Mike does?’ And I think that’s where he’s at right now. We’ll find out in the next few weeks. I think he feels good, and I think we feel good about it.”