The Pittsburgh Steelers signed veteran tight end Donald Parham Jr. in free agency back in February, hoping he'd add some depth to the position.
On Tuesday, that hope was gone as he went down with a torn ACL and will sit out the entire 2025 campaign.
Parham spent part of last season on the Denver Broncos practice squad. The 27-year-old was undrafted in 2019 out of Stetson and signed with the Detroit Lions before moving on to the Washington Commanders later that year.
In 2020, Parham played with the Arlington Renegades of the XFL, where he caught five balls for 76 yards and a touchdown against the Los Angeles Wildcats in Game 2 that season.
On the strength of his XFL season, he got a look in Los Angeles and signed with the Chargers in April of 2020. He was injured the following season and placed on IR after a serious head injury in Week 15 of 2021 before being released as part of final roster cuts last August.
Parham signed with the Broncos on Aug. 28 and was placed on the practice squad
The former Stetson product has caught 67 passes for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns in the NFL.
The Steelers currently have five tight ends on the roster, including fullback and tight end Conner Heyward, Darnell Washington, Parham, J.J. Galbreath and Pat Freiermuth.
Freiermuth is the incumbent starter and will be the starter heading into 2025, but Pittsburgh would like to add some depth.
The team has been rumored to have interest in Miami Dolphins tight end Jonnu Smith.