Tag: Donald Parham

Broncos officially sign massive tight end to practice squad

The Broncos have officially signed massive TE Donald Parham to their practice squad.

After setting a 53-man roster on Tuesday, the Denver Broncos announced their first 15 practice squad signings on Wednesday.

One reported signing that was not yet official on Wednesday was that of tight end Donald Parham, who had to travel to Colorado to join the club. The 15 players that the club announced Wednesday were all cut by Denver earlier in the week and were still in the area and available to sign immediately.

Now the Parham signing is also official as the Broncos announced his addition to the practice squad on Thursday morning.

Parham is a massive (6-8, 237 pounds) tight end who spent the last four years with the Los Angeles Chargers. The 27-year-old tight end totaled 67 receptions for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns in 47 games (23 starts) with the Chargers before landing in Denver.

The Broncos have now officially made 16 of their 17 practice squad additions. One more spot is yet to be filled.

Broncos practice squad signings

  1. RB Tyler Badie
  2. WR Lil’Jordan Humphrey
  3. WR Michael Bandy
  4. WR David Sills
  5. TE Donald Parham
  6. TE Thomas Yassmin
  7. FB Michael Burton
  8. OL Will Sherman
  9. OL Nick Garguilo
  10. OL Calvin Throckmorton
  11. DT Jordan Miller
  12. DL Matt Henningsen
  13. OLB Dondrea Tillman
  14. CB Reese Taylor
  15. DB Quinton Newsome
  16. DB Tanner McCalister

The final spot is likely being held for linebacker Jonas Griffith, who was surprisingly cut by Denver on Tuesday. Griffith is yet to decide on which team’s practice squad to join ahead of the 2024 season.

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Broncos signing ex-Chargers TE Donald Parham to practice squad

The Broncos are signing former Chargers TE Donald Parham to their practice squad, according to ESPN.

The Denver Broncos are signing former Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham to their practice squad, according to a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler.

Parham (6-8, 237 pounds) entered the NFL as an undrafted free agent out of Stetson with the Detroit Lions in 2019. He later spent time with the now-Washington Commanders and then spent the 2020 XFL spring season playing with the Arlington Renegades.

After being named to the mid-season All-XFL team, Parham signed with the Chargers when the spring league suspended operations due to COVID-19. Parham went on to spend the last four years in L.A., hauling in 67 receptions for 764 yards and 11 touchdowns in 47 games (23 starts).

Parham will now serve as Denver’s fifth tight end from the practice squad, joining a room that includes Adam Trautman, Greg Dulcich, Lucas Krull and Nate Adkins. Players on the practice squad are eligible to be elevated to the game-day roster three times during the season.

We are tracking all of Denver’s practice squad signings on Broncos Wire.

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12 players Broncos should claim off waivers or sign as free agents

Irv Smith headlines this list of players the Broncos should consider adding after NFL roster cuts.

NFL teams set their initial 53-man rosters on Tuesday after more than 1,000 transactions over the last two days.

Players cut with fewer than four accrued seasons are subject to the waiver wire. Veteran players with four or more accrued seasons become free agents when they are released.

After the Denver Broncos made 30 roster moves today, we’ve put together a quick list of 12 players the team should claim off waivers or sign as free agents, depending on the players’ respective statuses.

Waiver claims will be processed at 10:00 a.m. MT on Wednesday. Veterans are eligible to sign right away as free agents.

Players Broncos should sign after roster cuts

1. OL Ricky Stromberg: Former third-round pick with experience at center and guard.

2. OL Kyle Hergel: After being picked third overall in the CFL draft, Hergel opted to go to training camp with the New Orleans Saints instead. He can play guard and tackle.

3. OL La’el Collins: He’s dealt with injuries, but Collins has 86 career starts on his resume as a tackle and guard.

4. OL Matt Hennessy: A former third-round pick with 22 career starts at center.

5. OL Julién Davenport: He has 32 career starts at tackle as a former fourth-round pick.

6. OL Germain Ifedi: Former first-round pick with 83 starts at guard and tackle.

7. OT Alex Leatherwood: Another former first-round pick, but he’s been a backup since starting 17 games as a rookie in 2021.

8. TE Donald Parham: Denver could use some help at tight end.

9. TE Irv Smith: Broncos GM George Paton was part of the Vikings’ front office that used a second-round pick to select Smith in 2019.

10. FB Jack Colletto: He’s been compared to Taysom Hill and the Broncos hosted Colletto for a pre-draft visit this spring. After cutting fullback Michael Burton on Tuesday, perhaps coach Sean Payton could find a role for Collette.

11. LB Deion Jones: A former second-round pick with 731 career in tackles in 109 games (91 starts) in the NFL.

12. LB Damien Wilson: He’s a former fourth-round pick with 419 career tackles in 127 games (73 starts).

Bonus — LB Easton Gibbs: After hosting him before the draft, perhaps Denver will now attempt to add Gibbs to its practice squad.

We will track all potential signings on Broncos Wire.

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Twitter reacts to Chargers’ initial 53-man roster

A look at how social media reacted to the Chargers’ initial 53-man roster.

The Chargers constructed their initial 53-man roster on Tuesday.

Let’s take a look at how social media reacted to it:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

3 hardest cuts from our final Chargers 53-man roster projection

Here are the toughest cuts from our latest 53-man projection.

The Chargers are less than 24 hours away from announcing their initial 53-man roster for the 2024 regular season, meaning a handful of players will be cut, even some who had strong performances this summer.

Here are the toughest cuts from our latest 53-man projection:

WR Brenden Rice

It will be interesting to see how General Manager Joe Hortiz and Head Coach Jim Harbaugh approach the wide receiver position. It’s hard to see the Chargers keeping seven wideouts, and I think Simi Fehoko’s production will earn him the sixth spot. Rice flashed as a route runner, with most of his plays coming in training camp. Unfortunately, due to the lackluster play at quarterback, he wasn’t able to replicate that in the preseason.

TE Donald Parham

The tight end position is vital in Greg Roman’s offense, but something he wants from his players at the position is the ability to block. That was one of Pathan’s weaknesses coming into the summer and he didn’t show any signs of improvement in that department. As much as he and Justin Herbert built a solid rapport in the passing game the past four seasons, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him not make the cut due to his lack of blocking skills and struggles to stay healthy consistently.

S Tony Jefferson

After being quiet for most of the summer, Jefferson had the best preseason game against the Cowboys, posting double-digit tackles, two interceptions, a forced fumble and a sack. The 10-year veteran made a strong case to make the roster from that performance alone, as he showed that he’s still capable of making plays on the back end. However, I think JT Woods showed enough growth and his versatility to play outside cornerback lands him a spot on the roster.

Chargers preseason: 1 player to watch at each position on offense vs. Rams

There are some roster bubble players on the offensive side of the ball trying to make their case.

The Chargers are getting closer to having to trim their roster to 53 players ahead of their Week 1 matchup against the Raiders.

With a handful of starting jobs already locked up, the next two preseason games, including this weekend’s contest against the Rams, will be all about guys on the roster bubble vying for their spots.

That said, here is one offensive player to watch at each position ahead of Saturday’s matchup.

QB: Luis Perez

While Justin Herbert has been sidelined with an injury to the plantar fascia in his right foot, the offense has struggled during training camp. A lot of it has to do with quarterback play. Easton Stick, who was re-signed to serve as Herbert’s backup, has not done himself any favors with his performances.

Perez, on the other hand, was signed just a week ago, and he has flashed enough to the point where he could push Stick for the job if he keeps stacking good days. The former XFL star led all quarterbacks in passing last weekend with 61 yards.

RB: Kimani Vidal

Heading into training camp, everyone thought it was a near guarantee that Vidal would be a part of the rotation. But now, Vidal finds himself on the roster bubble. In the preseason opener, he suited up for warmups but did not dress for the game. He had been nursing an injury the week leading up to the contest, which likely led to him not playing.

Vidal is a talented back with great vision, contact balance, burst and upside in the passing game. But he must display that in live-game action to try to beat out Isaiah Spiller, who currently has the leg up due to his special teams skills.

WR: Ladd McConkey

Like Vidal, McConkey did not play against the Seahawks, as he had also been dealing with an injury. However, McConkey has been a full participant in practices this week, which points to him making his preseason debut against Seattle.

I don’t know how much he will play, but I’m looking forward to seeing what he showed in college at Georgia and over the past couple of months, with his elite route running, good speed and the ability to create with the football in his hands.

TE: Donald Parham

Parham was seen as the third tight end coming into the summer, but now he finds himself on the roster bubble. The reason is that he hasn’t participated much this summer due to an injury, which has been a concern with Parham.

After missing several practices, Parham had a great day on Tuesday, showing the impact he can make in the passing game. He will not only have to stay healthy and continue to be a reliable target but also show improvement as a blocker.

OL: Foster Sarell

There’s been a battle for the swing tackle spot between Sarell and Alex Leatherwood. And as it stands, Sarell has the leg up. Leatherwood is coming off a poor performance, as he allowed six quarterback pressures. Meanwhile, Sarell had a solid showing and exemplified position flexibility by playing some guard. I’m watching for how he performs along the interior again.

“That’s what he’s aiming for,” Greg Roman said on Sarell playing guard against the Seahawks. “He has a big opportunity. Position flexibility up front is huge. The more he can show that, the better. He’s taken that on in an excited fashion.”

Chargers training camp notes: Rashawn Slater, J.K. Dobbins leave practice early

The Chargers were without two key offensive players for most of the third day of training camp.

The Chargers were without two key offensive players for most of the third day of training camp on Friday.

Offensive tackle Rashawn Slater left practice and walked inside with trainers before returning, where he worked with trainers off to the side. The reason for Slater’s early departure remains to be seen.

In addition to Slater, running back J.K. Dobbins, tight end Donald Parham and wide receiver Praise Olatoke also left practice early, per ESPN’s Kris Rhim.

Their statuses are also unknown.

The Chargers returns to The Bolt for the fourth day of training camp on Saturday at 5:00 p.m. PT. We will see if these players return to the field and are able to practice without limitations.

Projecting the Chargers’ tight end depth chart in 2024

Taking a crack at projecting what the Los Angeles Chargers tight end room will look like entering the 2024 season.

Over the next few weeks ahead of training camp, I will continue to break down the depth chart for each Chargers position.

Quarterback

Running back

Wide receiver

Next, I project what the tight end room will look like heading into the 2024 season.

Will Dissly

Jim Harbaugh and Greg Roman want an efficient running game, and signing Dissly was part of the process of achieving this goal. Dissly consistently ranked among Pro Football Focus’ highest-graded run-blocking tight ends, most recently finishing as the third-best behind George Kittle and Charlie Woerner in 2023. Dissly, a 2018 fourth-round pick out of the University of Washington, dealt with injuries in his first couple of seasons before becoming a key piece in the Seahawks’ offense. He started 55 of 62 games from 2020 to 2023. Dissly amassed 127 catches for 1,421 yards and 13 touchdowns throughout his time in Seattle.

Hayden Hurst

The Chargers continued their retooling of the positional group by signing Hurst. This is his fifth team since entering the league in 2018. He was initially drafted by the Ravens, spending two years with them, two with the Falcons and a season apiece with the Bengals (2022) and Panthers (2023). Hurst’s best season came with Atlanta, where he caught 56 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns — all career-highs. When he played under Roman during his two-season stint with Baltimore, Hurst finished with his highest yards per reception marks of his career, 12.5 and 11.6, respectively. While Dissly will be used more exclusively as a blocker, Hurst will be a piece in the passing game.

Donald Parham Jr.

I have the Chargers starting the season with three tight ends, so there should be a battle for this spot between Parham, Smarrt and undrafted free agents Zach Heins and Luke Benson. But I give the nod to Parham. Parham has been dinged with injuries over the past couple of seasons, but when he is on the field he provides a big target with his 6-foot-8 frame, which especially comes in clutch in red-zone situations. Parham is also functional as a run blocker, as he can seal off edges.

Jim Harbaugh provides injury updates on Junior Colson and Donald Parham

Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh provided some injury updates for a couple of players.

Jim Harbaugh provided some injury updates for a couple of players. Asked about attendance and participation, Harbaugh mentioned that some players are “working through something.”

In a follow-up question, rookie Junior Colson’s status was asked about. Colson left with trainers during OTAs and had been working off to the side when he returned, as opposed to full participation in team drills. Harbaugh confirmed he was “dealing with something physically” but would not give specifics. He followed that up by saying Colson was “back now,” presumably inferring he had been doing better since the injury.

Donald Parham was also asked about. Harbaugh kept it brief with a similar, vague answer: “working through something.” Asked about the nature of his injury, Harbaugh jokingly danced around the question by saying, “I try not to step in the HIPAA grey area.”

Harbaugh said he would give more detailed updates if the injuries resulted in “long-term” absences. But at this stage of the offseason, it doesn’t seem as though he believes Colson or Parham will be hampered in a way that affects later offseason activities like training camp.

PFF’s tight end rankings: Chargers’ Hayden Hurst makes the cut

Hayden Hurst was recognized as one of the top 32 tight ends in the NFL.

Even after upgrading the tight end position, the Chargers still don’t have a bonafide No. 1. However, one of the additions is worthy of being recognized among the top 32 in the NFL.

Pro Football Focus released their rankings and recognized Hayden Hurst as the No. 30 overall TE.

Hurst has bounced around the league the past four years and hopes to stay healthy in 2024 after missing the second half of 2023. After earning career highs in catches and yards in 2022, Hurst will look to bounce back in Los Angeles.

Hurst has been a bit of a journeyman. This will be his fifth team since entering the league in 2018. He was initially drafted by the Ravens, spending two years with them, two with the Falcons and a season apiece with the Bengals (2022) and Panthers (2023).

Hurst’s best season came with Atlanta, where he caught 56 passes for 571 yards and six touchdowns — all career-highs.

When he played under offensive coordinator Greg Roman during his two-season stint with Baltimore, Hurst finished with his highest yards per reception marks of his career, 12.5 and 11.6, respectively.

While his fellow teammate Will Dissly will be used more as a blocker, the Chargers hope to get Hurst to produce in the passing department this season.