Chargers tight end Donald Parham, 24, is stretchered off the field with his arms visibly shaking after landing awkwardly during touchdown play as concerned players and fans watch on: Undergoing tests in hospital
- Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham, 24, had the ball in his hands following a touchdown pass from Justin Herbert on fourth and goal when he fell and hit his head on the turf
- His arms immediately jolted up towards his helmet, as his body went motionless
- Parham, 24, remained down for several minutes as the Chargers trainers attended to him
- He was later wheeled off the field in a stretcher with his arms visibly shaking as fans cheered for him
- Parham was taken to a hospital for further evaluation and was in stable condition
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Los Angeles Chargers star had to be stretchered off the field as his arms visibly shook beside him, after he fell awkwardly while trying to score a touchdown.
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham, 24, was trying to catch a touchdown pass from Justin Herbert on fourth and goal, Yahoo Sports reports, when he fell backward and his head hit the turf.
His arms immediately jolted up towards his helmet, as his body went motionless. A close-up from Fox Sports showed his eyes were closed and his mouth was open.
A teammate tried to move one of his bent arms but was unable to.
Parham remained down for several minutes, during which time FOX Sports, which was airing Thursday night’s game, went to a commercial break – only to return to show Chargers trainers attending to him.
He was eventually wheeled out of the field on a stretcher, with his arms visibly shaking, as fans cheered for him.
ESPN reporter Lindsey Thiry later tweeted that Parham had been taken to a hospital for further evaluation.
At around 10.30pm, the Chargers announced that he is undergoing tests, imaging and evaluation for a head injury at UCLA Harbor Medical Center and is in stable condition.
Los Angeles Chargers tight end Donald Parham, 24, was stretchered off the field and taken to a hospital as his arms shook
Parham lay on the ground with his arms stretched out beside him for several minutes after he fell on Thursday
The Los Angeles Chargers said Parham is in ‘stable condition’ and is undergoing tests at UCLA Harbor Medical Center
As the game against the Kansas City Chief returned for the second quarter, sports commentator Joe Buck seemed to suggest that Parham’s shaking could have been due to it being unusually chilly in Los Angeles that night, with temperatures in the low 50s, rather than due to his head injury.
Many fans were angered by the assertation, especially since he prefaced it by saying you shouldn’t speculate on an injury, and offered their shock and prayers on social media.
Kent Swanson, a writer for KC Sports Network, said that ‘Parham’s exit is one of the scariest things I’ve seen on a football field in a while,’ adding that it is ‘completely gut wrenching’ and offering his prayers.
Julian Edelman, a wide receiver for the Patriots, said his ‘thoughts are with Donald Parham,’ noting that it was ‘scary to watch,’ and Jonathan Jones, the senior NFL reporter for CBS, wrote: ‘Seeing Parham shake while being rolled out on a stretcher is perhaps the most uncomfortable moment of the NFL season.’
And Bolt Beat, which shares news about the Chargers, tweeted: ‘Prayers for Donald Parham and his family. This is so awful,’ later saying that they would take a break from tweeting about the game, noting: ‘Something just feels wrong about being critical of a player/play call or getting super excited after what happened to Parham.’
Parham is in his second season with the Los Angeles Chargers, after joining the team in April 2020
Fans and commentators shared their thoughts and prayers for Parham on social media after he was stretchered off
Parham is in his second season with the Chargers, after joining the team in April 2020 following the collapse of the short-lived XFL.
Through nine games this season, Parham has had 20 catches, earned 190 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 26 targets.
The team is now in the playoffs for the Super Bowl.