Graham had microfracture knee surgery
Philly.com, Inquirer, and Daily News coverage of the Eagles
Graham had microfracture knee surgery
Jeff McLane
Eagles defensive end Brandon Graham underwent microfracture surgery on his right knee in December after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament against the Cowboys on Dec. 12, sources have confirmed.
Graham also confirmed the report, first made by AnnArbor.com, through a text message, but declined further comment.
He later wrote on Twitter, "I am not doing interviews with nobody until I'm back on the field. Everybody needs to worry about this lockout if anything. I got this!!"
During the operation to repair Graham's ACL it was decided that microfracture surgery, considered by many knee experts to be a more serious procedure, was necessary. The Eagles announced that the ACL procedure was a success following the operation but made no mention of microfracture surgery.
The team had no comment on Wednesday.
Eagles coach Andy Reid has said as far back as March that it would be "a real stretch" for Graham to be back by the season opener. Last month during a chat with The Inquirer Reid was asked again if Graham would be back by the start of the season.
"Probably not," he responded.
Graham, the Eagles' 2010 No. 1 draft pick, could potentially miss much more than just the opener. He recently told reporters in Ann Arbor, while he was participating in a golf outing, that he was 80 percent recovered, though.
Victor Abiamiri, of course, was the last Eagles player to undergo microfracture knee surgery. The Eagles defensive end, the team's second-round pick in 2008, had the procedure in Feb. 2010 and missed all of last season. He recently said that he was fully recovered and would be ready for the coming season.
Graham has spent most of the off-season rehabbing in Southern California. Despite the NFL lockout the Eagles have been permitted to receive updates on his recovery.
In his rookie season Graham recorded three sacks and 19 tackles in 13 games before he was lost for the season. Despite his condition the Eagles did not select a defensive end in the draft. They still have free agency, however, to address the need.
Trent Cole and Juqua Parker started most of last season and both are slated to return next season, as are reserves Darryl Tapp, Daniel Te'o-Nesheim and Ricky Sapp. The Eagles also added Canadian Football League product Phillip Hunt in the off-season.
@ main liner: not just a waste of a 1st...a 1st and two 3rds.— Only in Philly...- not.good. I think when guys are thrust into something stupid, and they know they arent gonna win and have to keep doing the same stupid thing over and over, they are more likely to get injured. His players may not publicly say anything, but internally I think they know he will never win a sb, you get frustrated, and as soon as you get frustrated you are more likely to hurt yourself. you almost never see a guy get injured while making the game winning touchdown. its almost always wthey are losing or in a tough spot. (sports psychology) another example of why Reid will NEVER win a sb. EVER.— CharlieGarner25
- Absolutely pathetic considering what we gave up to get him. Nothing against Grahm, seems like a nice kid, this speaks to how inept and awful Reid is in drafting on defense, his record speaks for itself— yourdaddy!
- I would also liked to have Pouncey but calling him a bust is way out of like. McDougal was a stretch but that doesn't mean the Eagles cant draft defense. That Trent Cole kid turned out to be decent, as did Mikell, Shepard and Brown. Maybe the comments section isn't the best place to come for thoughtful insight.
Reminds me of my favorite quotes from Say Anything, .....I got a question. If you guys know so much about women, how come you're here at like the Gas 'n' Sip on a Saturday night completely alone drinking beers with no women anywhere? ----- By choice, man.— willbert31 - He's shot.— rustypop58
- Reid should sign an undrafted free agent punter coming off major knee surgery and make him play nose tackle.This would show everybody how smart he really is.— Geno D
- I bet now that he had surgery Reid and Nickels like him even more now. Nothing better than bargain players coming off surgery!— Trashcan_Man
- Just another Andy blown draft pick
— Ssteve115 - Players get hurt in the NFL, thats a fact, but they should not have picked him anyhow. They should have picked Pouncey the center on Pittsburgh (who is also hurt by the way).— watsonmr
- You guys who are giving up on this kid already are total idiots! The guy can't help it that he got hurt. Grow up!!— seamhead50
- Another in a long line of busted Reid defensive picks. Reid can coach, and organize, but he can't consistently draft defense. Pathetic! Bunkley (instead of Ngata); Graham v:s Thomas; trading up for McDougle, etc.....— ol duke
- Another in a long line of busted Reid defensive picks. Reid can coach, and organize, but he can't consistently draft defense. Pathetic! Bunkley (instead of Ngata); Graham v:s Thomas; trading up for McDougle, etc.....— ol duke
- Another in a long line of busted Reid defensive picks. Reid can coach, and organize, but he can't consistently draft defense. Pathetic! Bunkley (instead of Ngata); Graham v:s Thomas; trading up for McDougle, etc.....— ol duke
- Yeah, its tough getting in and out of the cart! DUH!— NYPHILLYPHAN
- Time to bring in "Fat" Albert Haynesworth. Graham is done. The eagles will cut him as soon as the lockout ends.
— Don Cornelius 
Comment removed.- Comment removed.
- How do you spell the word "bust?" B-R-A-N-D-O-N G-R-A-H-A-M.— Imbrianfellows
- Comment removed.
- anyone got a fork?— ekw555
- I'm not going to say that he's a bust, but I am going to say the Earl Thomas was still on the board when we picked this kid. Earl Thomas was an immediate impact player last year for Seattle, I'm hoping Graham can be one for the Eagles in his career.— KingHoser
- That procedure really needs two years to fully recover from. Now if he had some sort of procedure that involves stem cell treatment, recovery might be accelerated. Maybe. The procedure creates additional joint instability until full healing is complete. The problem is, how does he stay fit and lighting fast? I have no confidence based on intimate knowledge that Eagles players will receive the best orthopedic treatment the world has to offer. Or anything close.— HeelYes
- No player has successfully recovered from micro-fracture surgery. REpeat - no player.
No defensive end or running back has ever successfully recovered from know surgery.
Does anyone know whether he graduated? Welcome to the 8-6 working stiff world— LA Mike - Every time Andy picks a DT or DE in the 1st I cringe. I'm rooting for his recovery. But he's done. Done for good I think.— king_of_lincolnfield
- waste of a 1st rd draft pick, yet another for the eagles— main liner
- jerome macdougle jr.— WR1978
- I saw last week he was playing golf and I just don't understand why?!?! If he is so far from playing football, why on earth is he playing golf which is very tough on your knees!?!?!— andrewc23
When I look at what microfracture surgery is (obliteration of bone to form a sort of working, smushy cartilage) I have to say he's done. Graham is taking one heck of a risk. I hope Reid does not rush him back. In a way, I hope he can come back, for his own sense of accomplishment, but I also pray he can get through life without serious pain and further crippling injury to his knee. Good luck to him!- Ibeamary and Graham; your left defensive Bench rider and your right defensive bench rider. What a waste of draft picks!— younged
- The second coming of Jerome McDougle— pflynn20
- Thank god they signed Phillip Hunt from the CFL— outta work
- i knew we shoulda taken earl thomas, graham is a bust— jazztafari
- Graham stinks. Bring in Albert!— Big Ragu
- Graham stinks. Bring in Albert!— Big Ragu
- sad for the kid....but typical of Eagle draft picks....time to look at Hayesworth......— nuggett
Brandon Graham, the new Abiamiri?- Comment removed.
- Does Jerome McDougle Ring a bell?— barefoot
- Comment removed.
- Who is your source? Philly Sports Daily, I assume.— thomas paine
