METAIRIE, La. — As the New Orleans Saints finished up an extended period of rest and relaxation that came with their bye on Sunday, they got some news that they didn’t want to get.

The NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported via a source that All-Pro tight end Jimmy Graham, who sprained his right shoulder in the Saints’ last game prior to the bye on Oct. 5, likely will miss the next two games.

Graham, who was injured late in the first quarter of a 37-31 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, would be sidelined for games against the Detroit Lions on Sunday and Green Bay Packers on Oct. 26 if the report is accurate.

At any rate, after a week off, the Saints returned to practice Monday for a workout that was closed to media. There were no indications if Graham was able to do any on-field work.

A five-year veteran, Graham leads the Saints in receptions (34), receiving yards (376) and receiving touchdowns (three) after signing a four-year contract that could be worth up to $40 million — the highest annual salary for a tight end in NFL history.

The Saints seemed to have prepared themselves to not have Graham for a couple of weeks when they signed tight end Tom Crabtree, who formerly played for the Packers and Bucs, to the active roster. Benjamin Watson and Josh Hill would be the main tight end targets for quarterback Drew Brees if Graham is sidelined.

Watson has nine receptions for 64 yards. Hill, a second-year pro who made the roster as an undrafted free agent in 2013, has seven catches for 112 yards and two touchdowns.

REPORT CARD AFTER FIVE GAMES

PASSING OFFENSE: B-plus — There were a few more hiccups than usual in the team’s 2-3 start, but QB Drew Brees is enjoying another nice season to accompany a vastly improved running game. Brees, who has been sacked just four times, has connected on 68.8 percent of his attempts for 1,574 yards with nine touchdowns and a 91.8 passer rating. The problem is six interceptions. Another issue is the Saints’ defense has come up with just two takeaways in five games, which means Brees hasn’t had as many chances to make something happen. TE Jimmy Graham, who could be sidelined a couple of weeks with a sprained right shoulder, leads the team in receptions (36), receiving yards (376) and touchdowns (three), while rookie WR Brandin Cooks has been a valuable asset with 32 catches for 255 yards and one touchdown. As usual, the Saints are using an array of pass-catching weapons, and RB Pierre Thomas has been solid out of the backfield with 187 yards and a touchdown on 22 receptions.

RUSHING OFFENSE: B — After finishing 25th in the NFL in rushing each of the last two seasons, the Saints made it a priority to run the ball better in 2014. The results are encouraging, as they ranked eighth after Sunday’s games with 133 yards per game despite the loss of RB Mark Ingram to a fractured hand in Week 2. RB Khiry Robinson, who made the team as an undrafted free agent in 2013, has 304 yards and a 5-yard average with two touchdowns on 61 attempts. Ingram was off to a good start before his injury, amassing 143 yards and three touchdowns while averaging 6 yards per attempt. Thomas is chipping in as well with a 5-yard average and two touchdowns.

PASS DEFENSE: D — The Saints had a big season in 2013, ranking second against the pass. They have taken a major step backward, as the signings of FS Jairus Byrd and CB Champ Bailey backfired. Byrd was lost for the season when he tore a lateral meniscus in a non-contact drill in practice Oct. 2. Bailey was hurt early in training camp and was released before the season opener. Keenan Lewis is a solid cover corner on one side, but the other side has been unimpressively manned by Patrick Robinson and Corey White. The Saints ranked 25th against the pass after Sunday’s games, allowing 267.6 yards a game (they gave up 194.1 per game last season). They have one interception in five games, partly because they haven’t gotten much of a pass rush (six sacks). Also, SS Kenny Vaccaro, who had ankle surgery in late December, is just now regaining his form and looking like the impactful player he was as a rookie last season.

RUSH DEFENSE: B-minus — The Saints were in the middle of the pack after Sunday’s games, ranking 16th in the league with an average of 112 rushing yards allowed per game. At least they are showing a bit of improvement from last season, when they ranked 19th. They haven’t given up any big runs in allowing just five touchdowns and 4.2 yards per attempt. The longest run against them was 28 yards. The only game in which they were gashed was when they gave up 190 yards in a Week 4 loss to Dallas. Cowboys RB DeMarco Murray picked up 149 yards and two touchdowns on 24 carries. Otherwise, the Saints are getting solid work from the front seven — especially from ILB Curtis Lofton, the team’s best run defender, ILB David Hawthorne and OLB Junior Galette.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-minus — The Saints, who traded away shifty RB/KR Darren Sproles this spring, haven’t been as good returning kicks as they were in the past. They average just 2 yards per punt return on five attempts, with all 10 yards coming on one return by Cooks. The Saints also average just 23.1 yards on kickoff returns, with Travaris Cadet averaging 24.2 yards. Opponents are managing 25.7 yards per return. The Saints have been good on punt coverage, allowing just 3.6 yards per return. P Thomas Morstead’s averages are a bit down but still good at 44.9 yards gross and 41.9 yards net. Shayne Graham missed one extra-point attempt, but he is 7-for-8 on field goals.

COACHING: B — The Saints aren’t at peak performance, especially while losing all three of their games away from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Sean Payton is trying to push the right buttons, but he didn’t receive the desired results as the team lost two close games on the road to start the season and sandwiched closer-than-expected wins home wins over the Minnesota Vikings and Tampa Bay Buccaneers around a 38-17 blowout loss at Dallas. The Saints, who are still very much in the NFC South race, have to become more consistent with a tough schedule coming up after the bye.