Donald Parham Jr., a veteran tight end trying to earn a roster spot on the Pittsburgh Steelers, suffered a torn Achilles tendon in practice Tuesday at organized team activities, a league source confirmed to TribLive.
Parham, 27, could miss the 2025 season.
Parham, one of the tallest players on the roster at 6-foot-8, 237 pounds, was trying to resurrect his career after spending last season on the Denver Broncos’ practice squad. He spent his first four NFL seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, catching 67 passes for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns. The Chargers released Parham in August, and he joined the Broncos practice squad two days later.
Parham signed with the Steelers in February and was trying to replace MyCole Pruitt as the fourth tight end on the roster. Pruitt was not re-signed after he spent the 2024 season with the Steelers. Pat Freiermuth is the starter with Darnell Washington and Connor Heyward serving as the backups.
The Parham injury coincides with an ESPN report that the Steelers have renewed interest in trading for Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith, who is seeking a new contract.
Smith set a career high in 2024, his first season with the Dolphins, when he caught 88 passes for 884 yards and eight touchdowns. He is scheduled to make $3.49 million in base salary this season.
Smith played for Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith in Tennessee and Atlanta.
Joe Rutter is a TribLive reporter who has covered the Pittsburgh Steelers since the 2016 season. A graduate of Greensburg Salem High School and Point Park, he is in his fifth decade covering sports for the Trib. He can be reached at [email protected].
