According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Graham is expected to miss two-to-three weeks after the Saints' Week 6 bye due to a shoulder sprain.

We'll continue to track Graham's status as Week 7's contest against the Lions approaches, but based on the report, the tight end's fantasy owners will now have to look into securing a replacement for him beyond the Saints' current bye. Next up for the Saints' tight end snaps are Ben Watson, Josh Hill and newcomer Tom Crabtree.

The Saints believe Graham's shoulder injury is a sprain, and the injury is not thought to be serious, NFL.com reports.

After leaving Sunday's game in the first half, Graham was initially deemed probable to return, only to be ruled out a bit later. He did briefly try to play through the injury at first, but wasn't able to keep going. While the Saints' initial optimism is a good sign, it shouldn't be assumed that Graham is in the clear. Luckily for owners, the team has a Week 6 bye, giving the superstar tight end two weeks to get healthy.

Coach Sean Payton did not provide an immediate update on the seriousness of the left shoulder injury that Graham suffered in the first quarter of Sunday's game against the Buccaneers, the New Orleans Times-Picayune reports.

More on Graham's status in the coming days, but given his injury, the Saints' Week 6 bye is well-timed.

Graham (shoulder) has been ruled out for the remainder of Sunday's game versus the Buccaneers, NFL.com reports.

Graham underwent X-rays after injuring his shoulder during Sunday's game and apparently won't be allowed to return to the action. At the moment, the severity of his injury is uncertain, although an update should surface some time after Sunday's contest. Without Graham, Josh Hill and Ben Watson embody the Saints' remaining options at tight end.

Graham is currently getting X-rays on his right shoulder, but is considered probable to return to Sunday's game, FOX Sports reports.

Graham was forced to the Saints' locker room during the first-half of Sunday's game. The tight end was suffering from shoulder pain, which resulted in New Orleans' medical staff opting to take X-rays. Once their examination is complete, it's likely Graham will be able to return to Sunday's game versus the Buccaneers.

Graham suffered an arm injury during Sunday's game against the Buccaneers and is currently in the Saints' locker room being evaluated further, Sports Talk Florida reports.

Graham played through his arm injury for a portion of Sunday's game, but was eventually taken to the Saints' locker room for further examination. At the moment, the extent of his issue is uncertain. Prior to exiting, Graham caught two passes (on five targets) for 36 yards. While an update on Graham's injury should be forthcoming, tight ends Josh Hill and Ben Watson figure to receive expanded playing time for the Saints until further notice.

Graham had eight catches for 86 yards and a touchdown on 11 targets in Sunday's 38-17 loss to the Cowboys.

Though he had little trouble getting open, Graham didn't play especially well. He dropped an easy pass on a play that drew a defensive penalty, and also failed to haul in a catchable deep ball. Worst of all for the Saints, he lost a fumble in the red zone toward the end of the third quarter. Of course, Graham also made some nice plays en route to a strong receiving line, following a mediocre fantasy outing in Week 3. His 42 targets comfortably lead the team, ahead of Brandin Cooks' 30 and Marques Colston's 23. Next week's opponent, Tampa Bay, has struggled to contain tight ends this season.

Graham had six catches on eight targets for 54 yards Sunday against the Vikings.

One week after grabbing 10 passes for 118 yards and two touchdowns, Graham finished with season-lows in targets, receptions and receiving yards. Making matters worse, he had watch third-string tight end Josh Hill catch a 34-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Nevertheless, Graham remains an elite fantasy option with a decent Week 4 matchup against the Cowboys, who let Rams tight ends Jared Cook and Lance Kendricks combine for 13 catches for 104 yards and a touchdown in Week 3.

Graham caught 10 passes on 13 targets for 118 yards and two touchdowns against the Browns on Sunday.

While the rest of the receiving corp scuffled, Drew Brees consistently connected with Graham, as the Browns had no stop for the big tight end, even after the Browns switched elite cover corner Joe Haden on him in an effort to slow him down. The touchdowns were of the shorter variety, from nine and one yard out, as Graham once again proved to be one of the most dominant red zone targets in the league. With 18 catches and 200 yards receiving through two games, fantasy owners should be able to continue to rely on Graham, especially as the Saints return home to the Superdome for Week 3, where the team went 8-0 and averaged 34 points per game last season.

Graham had eight catches on 10 targets for 82 yards Sunday against the Falcons.

Graham led the team in targets and receptions, although quarterback Drew Brees' lone-touchdown pass went to rookie wideout Brandin Cooks. Graham is easily one of the best receivers in the league, so it's only a matter of time before he grabs the first of many touchdowns.

Graham caught two passes for 49 yards in Saturday's preseason game against the Colts.

Not that fantasy owners needed any further assurances that Graham will be ready to light it up when the regular season rolls around, but it was still nice to see Graham hauling in passes from Drew Brees, who was playing his first game of the preseason. With Brees showing no signs of rust, Graham remains the top tight end option in fantasy.

Graham caught five passes for 48 yards and two touchdowns on six targets in Friday's preseason game against the Titans.

A recent report said that Graham looks even better than he did last season, an idea that's scary for the defenses he'll have to face in a few weeks. He only supported that notion with his performance Friday night, and he didn't even have Drew Brees around to help. Keep in mind that Graham was bothered by a foot injury for much of 2013, yet still turned in an all-time great season for a tight end. He's now believed to be 100 percent healthy, and also has the security of a long-term contract.

Graham looks faster and stronger than he did last year, reports Mike Triplett of ESPN.com.

As Saints safety Kenny Vaccaro noted the other day after Graham beat him down the field in the scrimmage, "The dude's flying. He's faster than last year, he seems stronger." It's unlikely fantasy owners need reminding, but over the last three years, Graham has scored a remarkable 36 touchdowns, including 16 last year. Even if Vaccaro's comments are simply hot air, Graham looks primed to continue scoring touchdowns in bunches.

Jimmy Graham's $8 million 2015 salary becomes fully guaranteed on the third day of the 2015 waiver period.

Graham's new four-year, $40 million contract included $21 million in guarantees. That comes in the form of a $12 million signing bonus, $1 million 2014 base salary and $8 million 2015 base. So he's a lock to get all that money, and is an excellent bet to get all $40 million as long as he sustains health. If Graham does play out the full four years at his current dominant level, he'll break the bank when he hits the open market at age-31. His camp had no leverage in this deal because they were handcuffed by the franchise tag.

Saints signed Jimmy Graham to a multi-year contract.

Graham broke the news on his Twitter account: "It's official. I'm bleeding black and gold this morning! Thank you WhoDatNation for all the support." All major news outlets and Graham's agent, Jimmy Sexton, have confirmed a long-term deal has been reached ahead of Tuesday afternoon's 4 PM ET deadline. Once the numbers are in, Graham will be the league's highest-paid tight end. We can all breathe; Graham will be listed as a tight end in fantasy.

ESPN's Adam Schefter reports the Saints and franchise player Jimmy Graham are "closing in" on a deal that would make Graham the highest-paid tight end in league history.

Reports of a long-term deal have been seconded by FOX Sports and Profootballtalk. The sides have until Tuesday to finalize a long-term agreement. If talks fall apart, Graham would be forced to play out 2014 under the tight-end franchise tag (though he's appealed his tag as a tight end). Graham will blow by the $16 million guaranteed - the most for any current tight end - Dennis Pitta and Jared Cook received in their recent deals.

Jimmy Graham has appealed independent arbitrator Stephen Burbank's decision that he should be franchise tagged as a tight end.

There had been speculation that Graham wouldn't appeal. The lack of an appeal would have been an indication that the sides were ready to strike an agreement before Tuesday's deadline to sign franchise players to long-term contracts. Now, it's uncertain if the sides will come to an accord.

The deadline for Jimmy Graham to appeal independent arbitrator Stephen Burbank's franchise tag decision is believed to be Monday, July 14.

It's surprising the NFLPA has taken this long to formally file the appeal. Meanwhile, the deadline for franchise-tagged players to sign long-term extensions is Tuesday, July 15. PFT's Mike Florio, an attorney, expects either a long-term deal between the Saints and Graham before July 14 at 4PM, or the appeal to be filed by the NFLPA. Both sides would likely prefer a long-term pact.

A source with knowledge of the situation tells Profootballtalk.com the Saints were not thrilled with the way arbitrator Stephen Burbank ruled in their favor during the Jimmy Graham franchise tag case.

The Saints "disagree" a tight end's position is determined by whether he lines up within four yards of an offensive tackle. They believe three factors distinguish tight ends: 1) Their size 2) The position group with which they meet 3) How they are defended. PFT's Mike Florio, who is an attorney, suggests the Graham case could be "a little more vulnerable to reversal" on appeal. We're still not worried about Graham losing tight end eligibility in fantasy football leagues.

Profootballtalk reports the Saints have offered franchise player Jimmy Graham a multi-year contract worth $9.5 million annually.

PFT's Mike Florio hints the offer has been on the table for some time now, and the Saints have no plans to withdraw it, even after winning the arbitration case against Graham on Wednesday. At $9.5 million per year, Graham would be the league's highest-paid tight end. The offer also reportedly contains a "considerable chunk of fully guaranteed money up front." Florio expects the two sides to hammer out a deal at some point before the July 15 deadline.