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Colby Parkinson

Rams To Sign TE Colby Parkinson

March 11th, 2024 at 1:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

As part of a spending spree on offense, the Rams will add to their pass-catching corps. Los Angeles is set to sign tight end Colby Parkinson on a three-year, $22.5MM deal, per ESPN’s Adam Schefter. The pact includes $15.5MM in guaranteed money.

This gives the Rams a tight end to pair with Tyler Higbee, who has been in Los Angeles for eight seasons now. Should Parkinson reach certain performance thresholds, he can void the deal after two years, NFL.com’s Tom Pelissero tweets.

[RELATED: Rams Agree To Terms With Jonah Jackson]

The Seahawks opted to re-sign Noah Fant, but the team will move on from both Parkinson and Will Dissly. Seattle cut Dissly last week, seeing him land in Los Angeles under Jim Harbaugh. Parkinson will join Dissly in L.A., and this contract suggests the Rams have bigger pass-game plans for the Stanford alum than the Seahawks did.

The Rams also could have some decisions to make at tight end, where 2023 trade pickup Hunter Long joins Dissly and now Parkinson. A former fourth-round pick, Parkinson served as an auxiliary Geno Smith weapon over the past two years. After playing little on offense from 2020-21, the 6-foot-7 pass catcher caught 25 passes in each of the past two seasons, catching two TDs in each campaign. Parkinson’s market certainly points to other teams believing there is more meat on the bone here. A 6-7 receiving option with Matthew Stafford does provide intrigue, though Parkinson’s next 350-yard season will be his first.

Parkinson rounds out a Rams receiving corps returning its top receivers, thanks to the Demarcus Robinson re-signing, and regular tight ends. One season remains on Long’s rookie contract, which the Rams obtained in the Jalen Ramsey trade.

Seahawks TEs Poised For More Prominent Role?

July 9th, 2022 at 3:24pm CST by Adam La Rose

The Seahawks will have a much different look on offense in 2022 in the absence of Russell Wilson. While the team does still have two accomplished pass-catchers on the perimeter, the tight end group could be in line for a more featured role in 2022. 

ESPN’s Brady Henderson cites that unit – rather than any one member of it – as Seattle’s offensive breakout candidate. The team’s TE usage generally ranked mid-pack at best during Wilson’s tenure at the helm, with the exception of Jimmy Graham‘s three-year stint in the Emerald City. With either Drew Lock or Geno Smith under center for at least the immediate future, though, more targets could be funnelled toward the middle of the field.

The primary beneficiary of such an offensive shift would be Noah Fant. Part of the package Seattle received from Denver in the Wilson trade, the 24-year-old has flashed potential during his first three seasons in the NFL, but fallen short of expectations given his draft stock. The No. 20 pick in his class (which, as Henderson notes, took him off the board right before Seattle would have selected him), Fant acknowledged the possibility for greater production after the trade.

“I’m kind of stuck at that high-600 [yards] ceiling, and I’ve got to break through that” he said. “I think I have every opportunity to do that in Seattle, and I’m excited to get to work to do that.”

More attention on the TE position could also see Will Dissly playing a more prominent role. The former fourth-rounder has put up consistent number during his four years with the Seahawks, earning him a three-year, $24MM deal in free agency to remain with the team. His blocking ability will always give him a path to playing time in the team’s run-heavy offense, but even a slight uptick in targets could lead to positive results for the offense. The same could be true of 2020 draftee Colby Parkinson, whom head coach Pete Carroll spoke highly of as part of his general optimism surrounding the group.

“We’ve got a lot of flexibility with these guys, and they’re going to be a big part of what we’re doing,” he said. It remains to be seen how the unit will mesh with a new QB and wideouts Tyler Lockett and D.K. Metcalf, but a large workload could be in store.

Seahawks Place RB Rashaad Penny On IR

October 2nd, 2021 at 2:47pm CST by Sam Robinson

Some Seahawks Saturday roster reshuffling will bring in multiple reinforcements but move former first-round pick Rashaad Penny back to a familiar place. Penny is back on IR, Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times tweets.

Penny’s contract year is off to a rough start, with the former San Diego State standout having played just seven snaps — all in Week 1 — before going down with a calf injury. He is now out for Seattle’s next three games.

While the Penny pick surprised most at the time, he has impressed at points. But he has not overtaken former seventh-round pick Chris Carson in Seattle’s lineup and has run into extensive injury misfortune. Penny tore an ACL late in the 2019 season and did not return until December 2020. He underwent another knee surgery this offseason. The Seahawks declined Penny’s fifth-year option in May.

Better news comes at other positions for the 1-2 Seahawks. They activated tackle Cedric Ogbuehi and tight end Colby Parkinson off IR. Parkinson suffered a foot fracture for the second straight summer. His return will help a team that has Gerald Everett on its reserve/COVID-19 list. Everett tested positive for the coronavirus this week and has not submitted a negative test yet. Ogbuehi’s return to work comes at a key juncture, with starting right tackle Brandon Shell ruled out for Week 4 with an ankle injury.

A fourth-round pick out of Stanford last year, Parkinson has played in just six games as a pro. But this year’s foot fracture was not as serious as the injury he suffered in 2020. Parkinson’s return stands to help a Seahawks team that has seen extensive tight end unavailability over the past few seasons.

Seahawks TE Gerald Everett Lands On Reserve/COVID-19 List

September 29th, 2021 at 4:08pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Seahawks are likely to be without Gerald Everett for at least Week 4. The veteran tight end tested positive for COVID-19 and landed on Seattle’s coronavirus list, Doug Kyed of Pro Football Focus tweets.

Everett being fully vaccinated would allow him to return if he tests negative twice 24 hours apart. If the fifth-year tight end is not vaccinated, he is subject to 2020 protocols and is certain to miss Sunday’s game and perhaps Week 5 as well. Either way, the Seahawks are likely to be without their recently signed starter Sunday.

Seattle gave Everett a two-year, $6MM deal this offseason, bringing him over after hiring Rams assistant Shane Waldron as OC. Everett has started the season slowly, but he did haul in five passes for 54 yards in the Seahawks’ Week 3 loss to the Vikings.

The team has Will Dissly in place to pick up the slack. The injury-prone pass catcher has played 38% of the Seahawks’ offensive snaps through three games and has four receptions. Seattle also designated second-year tight end Colby Parkinson for return Wednesday and recently signed ex-Packer Jace Sternberger to its practice squad. Parkinson suffered a foot fracture for the second straight summer and has been on the mend since. The Seahawks have 21 days to bump him up to their active roster.

Minor NFL Transactions: 9/7/21

September 7th, 2021 at 6:39pm CST by Zachary Links

We’ll keep track of the latest minor moves here:

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

Indianapolis Colts

New York Giants

Philadelphia Eagles

  • Signed off Broncos practice squad: CB Mac McCain

Tennessee Titans

Seattle Seahawks

NFC West Notes: Seahawks, Watt, 49ers

August 18th, 2021 at 7:41pm CST by Sam Robinson

After starting 16 games for the Cowboys last season, Aldon Smith has seen his career veer off track again. The Seahawks cut the talented edge defender last week, and Brady Henderson of ESPN.com notes the team did not do so because of Smith’s on-field work. This was a non-football-related exit for Smith, whom Pete Carroll said (via the Tacoma News Tribune’s Greg Bell; video link) “couldn’t hang with” the Seahawks despite the team giving the suspension risk a “real shot.” The Seahawks signed Smith in April, but shortly after that agreement, the 32-year-old pass rusher was booked on a battery charge. He also was not in good enough shape to participate in Seattle’s June minicamp, raising more red flags about his 2021 viability. Smith was out of football from 2016-19, but Roger Goodell greenlit his reinstatement last year. Smith recorded five sacks and returned a fumble for a touchdown with Dallas.

Here is more from Seattle and the latest from elsewhere in the NFC West:

  • The third and fourth seasons of Jamal Adams‘ four-year, $70MM extension do not include any guaranteed money, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk notes. That said, the Seahawks’ Pro Bowl safety will collect all but $2.56MM of his $38MM in guarantees by February 2022. Because of Adams’ $20MM signing bonus being spread throughout the deal, per Bob Condotta of the Seattle Times, the 2021 cap hit will be just $5MM. Adams’ contract also includes $2.75MM in incentives. Adams can collect $250K for each season he notches the rare (for other safeties, but in play for him) five-sack, three-interception double. The 25-year-old defender interestingly has just two career INTs, but he has met the sack requirement here twice — 6.5 in 2019, a safety-record 9.5 in 2020.
  • Aaron Banks had a good chance to become a 49ers starting guard in Week 1, but his lineup path will be delayed. The second-round pick suffered a shoulder injury in San Francisco’s first preseason game; he will be sidelined for as many as three weeks. While the Iowa product should be healthy at some point in September, Matt Barrows of The Athletic writes (subscription required) that this should allow Daniel Brunskill to keep his starting right guard spot come Week 1. Brunskill started all 16 49ers games at right guard last season.
  • The Cardinals won the J.J. Watt sweepstakes, but they hope to decrease the future Hall of Famer’s workload this season. They want Watt to play closer to 65% of their defensive snaps this season, rather than venturing into the 90% neighborhood, Jim Trotter of NFL.com notes. Despite his run of injuries in the late 2010s, Watt played 91% of the Texans’ snaps last season. In his seven non-injury-limited seasons, the five-time All-Pro played at least 88% of Houston’s defensive snaps. With Watt already dealing with a hamstring injury that will likely shelve him until Week 1, Arizona D-line coach Brentson Buckner is hoping to lighten his workload to maximize his productivity and extend his career.
  • After suffering a foot fracture for the second straight summer, Seahawks tight end Colby Parkinson received some good news. The break will not require surgery, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. This will allow for a quicker return for the Stanford product. Prior to the setback, Parkinson was set to see time alongside Gerald Everett and Will Dissly this season.

Seahawks TE Colby Parkinson Suffers Broken Foot

August 13th, 2021 at 3:37pm CST by Sam Robinson

For the second straight summer, Colby Parkinson will begin rehab on a broken foot. The second-year Seahawks tight end will be out for an extended period after this second foot fracture, Adam Jude of the Seattle Times notes.

The break occurred in the same spot — the fifth metatarsal — Parkinson damaged while working out on his own last summer, per Pete Carroll, but the Seattle HC said this injury is not as bad as Parkinson’s 2020 ailment. Though Carroll is known for injury-related positivity, that would appear to be a good sign for a player who has run into bad luck to start his career.

The injury occurred on the final snap of Wednesday’s practice, Carroll said. Participating in his first training camp, Parkinson had fared well and was progressing toward a role in the Seahawks’ offense. But the 6-foot-7 Stanford product will be on the mend again.

Parkinson landed on the Seahawks’ NFI list last year; since this year’s injury occurred during camp, that designation will not be permitted. But the NFL has greenlit another year of unlimited returns from IR, which would allow the Seahawks to stash Parkinson there once he is carried through to the 53-man roster after roster cutdown day.

The Seahawks have run into rampant injury trouble at tight end in recent years. Will Dissly suffered season-ending injuries in back-to-back years, and 2020 stopgap solution Greg Olsen missed much of the season because of a foot injury. Seattle now has Gerald Everett in place as its top tight end, and Dissly remains on the roster. Parkinson’s setback will affect the team’s depth, however.

Minor NFL Transactions: 10/31/20

October 31st, 2020 at 4:48pm CST by Sam Robinson

Here is the league’s avalanche of Halloween minor moves:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

Baltimore Ravens

Buffalo Bills

Chicago Bears

Cincinnati Bengals

Cleveland Browns

Denver Broncos

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Jacksonville Jaguars

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Tennessee Titans

Seahawks TE Colby Parkinson Suffers Injury

June 20th, 2020 at 12:53pm CST by Zachary Links

Seahawks rookie tight end Colby Parkinson suffered a Jones fracture in his foot, according to Ian Rapoport of NFL.com (on Twitter). The fourth-round pick broke the fifth metatarsal in his foot while route running earlier this offseason and had surgery earlier this month to correct the problem. 

Parkinson was slated to push for snaps at tight end, somewhere behind Greg Olsen and alongside vets like Will Dissly, Luke Willson, and Jacob Hollister. No one expected the Seahawks to draft a TE in April, but they saw real potential in Parkinson and couldn’t pass him up. Also, Parkinson offered insurance against Olsen’s age and the medical history of the rest of the bunch.

The Seahawks will probably start the year without the safety net of Parkinson, but he should be able to suit up this year. Beyond that, he could be ticketed for a prime role – Olsen, Hollister, and Willson are all set for free agency after the 2020 season and no one would be surprised if Olsen made this his last NFL campaign.

Parkinson put himself on the map at Stanford with a strong 2018 and seven touchdowns. Last year, he set new career bests with 48 grabs for 589 yards, though he only scored once.