Breaking News: Steelers TE Donald Parham Jr. Suffers Achilles Tear – What This Means for the Team

Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Donald Parham Jr. suffered a torn Achilles during practice, which likely means his season is over. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported this injury, and it may also spark renewed trade talks for Jonnu Smith from the Miami Dolphins.

Parham joined the Steelers this offseason after spending time on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. Standing tall at 6’8” and weighing 240 pounds, he previously enjoyed a successful career with the Los Angeles Chargers, catching 67 passes for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns. His standout year was 2023 when he had 27 receptions for 285 yards and four touchdowns. Now, at 28, he was vying for a backup tight end position, but the injury puts him on the path to injured reserve, which will end his season.

Rumors suggest his contract may have a split salary clause. This means if he’s on injured reserve, his salary could drop to about $540,000.

With Parham out, the Steelers have other tight ends in place, including Pat Freiermuth and Darnell Washington. Connor Heyward’s chances of making the roster have improved due to this situation. They also added undrafted free agents JJ Galbreath and DJ Thomas-Jones, the latter of whom has skills more like a fullback.

Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith favors using multiple tight ends, a strategy that worked for him last season when his team utilized three tight ends frequently. The Steelers kept four tight ends on their initial 53-man roster last year, so they may be looking to adjust again.

As Parham heads to injured reserve, the Steelers now have two open roster spots. They recently waived rookie defensive lineman Blake Mangelson and can carry up to 91 players before the final cuts in late August due to an international exemption for EDGE Julius Welschof.

In moments like this, injuries impact team dynamics significantly. Parham’s situation not only affects his career but also reshapes the roster as the Steelers prepare for the upcoming season. With roster changes coming, how the team responds to the loss will be crucial.



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