AP

Saints coach Sean Payton said Thursday that the team is still optimistic about tight end Jimmy Graham’s chances of playing against the Lions on Sunday despite reports that Graham was going to miss two or three games as a result of a shoulder injury.

Graham addressed his condition on Friday and didn’t say anything that would cause that optimism to disappear. Graham said, via Ramon Antonio Vargas of the Baton Rouge Advocate, that he wasn’t sure whether or not he’d be able to play and that the decision would come on Sunday.

“It’s an injury. It’s painful. If I am able to play, I will,” Graham said.

Graham said he played against Tampa in Week Five until his shoulder wouldn’t move enough to allow him to continue and said he’d be fine with being used solely as a red zone target if he and the team find that he’s up to that task. That would be a boost to the Saints offense, to be sure, but sitting him still might make sense as having Graham closer to 100 percent in Week Eight and beyond would provide an even bigger boost.