Falcons Place TE Parker Hesse On IR, Re-Sign WR Frank Darby To PS

The Atlanta Falcons announced they have placed practice squad TE Parker Hesse on the practice squad injured reserve. 

The Falcons also re-signed WR Frank Darby to the practice squad. 

Hesse, 28, signed with the Titans as an undrafted free agent out of Iowa in 2019, converting to tight end from defensive line. He was waived coming out of training camp and spent his rookie year on the practice squad. 

Tennessee signed Hesse to a futures deal for the 2020 season but waived him during camp. He returned to the Titans halfway through the year on the practice squad and signed another futures deal after the season for 2021. 

However, the Titans cut Hesse again and he caught on with the Falcons back in May of 2021. He was re-signed to a contract for the 2023 season but released and re-signed to the practice squad. 

In 2022, Hesse appeared in all 17 games for the Falcons and had nine receptions for 89 yards and no touchdowns.

Darby, 25, signed a four-year, $3.7 million rookie contract with the Falcons after being selected in the sixth round out of Arizona State.

Atlanta waived Darby coming out of the preseason in his second season and eventually re-signed him to their practice squad. He bounced between the team’s active roster and practice squad before being called up later in the year.

Darby was waived with an injury designation during training camp this year. 

In 2022, Darby appeared in five games for the Falcons and caught his only target for 15 yards.