Pittsburgh Steelers tight end Donald Parham Jr. is expected to miss the entire 2025 season after tearing his Achilles in practice on Tuesday.

It is a devastating blow for the 27-year-old, who signed for the Steelers in a one-year deal during the offseason but will now need an operation before a long comeback trail.

Parham Jr. is best known for his three-year spell with the Los Angeles Chargers, where he played 47 games that included 21 starts. He was signed to the Denver Broncos last year as part of their practice squad.

The injury news comes amid reports that the Steelers have returned for trade talks with the Miami Dolphins over tight end Jonnu Smith.

It comes hours after Smith's agent, Drew Rosenhaus, told the Miami Herald on Sunday that Smith wants to stay with the Dolphins.

'Here's what I will say on behalf of my client: Jonnu would definitely like to stay in Miami. That's his first choice,' Rosenhaus said. 

'This is where he lives in the offseason. He had a record-breaking season last year. It was the best season ever for a Miami Dolphin tight end.'

But with the Steelers' need for a tight end increasing after Tuesday's Parham Jr news, the two teams are back at the negotiating table. Pittsburgh have three other tight ends on the roster at present in Pat Freiermuth, Darnell Washington, and J.J. Galbreath.

The Steelers were hosting OTAs this week with questions marks still hanging over the name of their starting quarterback ahead of the new season.

As it stands, Mason Rudolph is the most established name on the roster but the Steelers are expected to eventually sign Aaron Rodgers.

The longer the wait goes on for Rodgers to put pen to paper, however, the more that uncertainty grows over him ever doing so. 

Rodgers, of course, knows all about the recovery process for a torn Achilles after sustaining the injury in his first game for the New York Jets in 2023.