Chargers TE Donald Parham immobilized, stretchered off vs. Chiefs

Just two minutes into a Week 15 game, Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham suffered what looked to be a serious head or neck injury and was immobilized before he was stretchered off the field.

Parham, 24, appeared to suffer the injury without contact from a Kansas City Chiefs defender. The third-year tight end attempted to make a diving catch in the back of the end zone on a fourth down, but the ball came free when he hit the ground. 

It appeared as though Parham was knocked unconscious by the collision with the ground. His facemask was removed by trainers before he was strapped down. The television broadcast also showed Parham's arms shaking in front of his body as he was pushed off the field.

Parham spent just a couple days with the Detroit Lions after going undrafted in 2019 before landing on Washington's practice squad later that year. He then played for the XFL's Dallas Renegades before getting a second shot at the NFL when he signed with the Chargers in April 2020. In 26 career games with the Chargers, Parham has caught 30 passes for 349 yards with six touchdowns.

Early in the second quarter, the Chargers told reporters that Parham was taken to a local hospital for further evaluation.