Donald Parham Jr. injury update: Jim Harbaugh cites HIPAA to not discuss tight end's injury

Los Angeles Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh is keeping his team’s injuries close to the vest as they close out mandatory minicamp. The former Michigan coach declined to provide detailed updates on injured tight end Donald Parham Jr. and rookie Junior Colson, telling reporters the players are “dealing with something” without going into specifics.

Harbaugh cited HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, which prohibits entities from disclosing protected patient information. The skipper appears to be playing it safe when it comes to his players’ ailments.

“I try not to step in the HIPAA grey area,’ Harbaugh said, adding that Parham is “working through something.”

Chargers work without Parham, Colson

Parham, a former undrafted free agent, is entering his fifth season in the league. He’s spent his entire career thus far with the Chargers. Last season, he had 27 receptions, 285 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. In his first four seasons in the league, Parham has tallied 67 catches, 764 yards and 11 touchdowns. The 2024 season is a contract season for the tight end. He’s due to hit free agency without an extension at the end of this season.

As for Colson, the Chargers drafted the Michigan star with the No. 69 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. A three-year player for the Wolverines, Colson developed into a steady off-ball linebacker presence in the middle of the defense.

Across three seasons in Ann Arbor — all with a Big Ten title and a trip to the College Football Playoff — Colson played in all 43 possible games. That included playing with a pair of broken hands at the end of Michigan’s national championship season in 2023.

Colson was a freshman All-American in 2021 and earned All-Big Ten second-team status in 2022 and 2023, leading the Wolverines in tackles in both years.

Chargers prepare for 2024 season

LA opens the season against the Raiders at SoFi Stadium this year. They follow up the local matchup with consecutive road games against the Panthers, and then the Steelers. They’ll also close the season against three teams that finished below .500 last year – the Broncos, Patriots and Raiders.

Meanwhile, the Chargers will play in primetime three times, including the much-hyped Harbaugh Bowl. That’s when Jim Harbaugh plays host to big brother John Harbaugh’s Ravens. The Chargers also play the Cardinals and Chiefs in primetime. Both of those games are on the road. They don’t have a Thursday night game this season for the first time in seven years.