Jimmy Graham arrested after 'medical episode' made him disoriented, Saints say
New Orleans Saints tight end Jimmy Graham was arrested in the Los Angeles area Friday evening after experiencing a "medical episode," the team announced on Saturday.
Police officers found Graham wandering in the street following reports of a suspicious person acting erratically, according to TMZ. He was arrested on suspicion of being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting, delaying and obstructing a police officer.
In a statement released Saturday, the Saints said Graham became "disoriented" Friday evening after experiencing a "medical episode" that doctors believe was a seizure. The Saints are in Los Angeles ahead of a preseason matchup against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday.
"Jimmy Graham experienced a medical episode last evening, which resulted in him being disoriented," the team said. "He was taken into custody by local authorities and transported to a local hospital for evaluation for what Dr. John Amoss believes to be a likely seizure and spent the night under medical supervision and testing."
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The Saints said Graham, 36, was released from the hospital Saturday morning and is with the team ahead of their preseason game against the Chargers.
The team signed Graham, who hasn't played in the NFL since 2021, to a one-year contract in July. Graham briefly appeared in the Saints' 26-24 preseason win over the Kansas City Chiefs last week, where he caught one reception for 10 yards, but it's not clear if Graham will play on Sunday following his medical episode.
In his prime, Graham was a lethal red zone weapon, thanks to his size (6-foot-7) and leaping ability. Graham played basketball at the University of Miami for four seasons and his athleticism translated well on the football field, where his agility and frame made him a difficult cover for linebackers and safeties.
In his 12 NFL seasons, Graham has caught 713 passes for 8,506 yards with 85 touchdowns. He was originally a third-round selection for the Saints in the 2010 NFL draft and spent his first five seasons in New Orleans.
Contributing: Lorenzo Reyes
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Saints' Jimmy Graham arrested after 'likely seizure' disoriented him
