Palmer grew up in Brampton, Ontario, the son of Keith and Alethia Palmer. He has two sisters, Lanisha and Keiana. He initially attended St. Roch Catholic Secondary School, where he played basketball and ran track in addition to playing football. He was named St Roch's junior athlete of the year in tenth grade. He played wide receiver and defensive back helping St Roch win two JV football titles in ninth and tenth grade. He also played for the Burlington Stampeders of the Ontario Football Conference and the Brampton Bulldogs. After participating in summer football camps in the United States and receiving interest from several Division I football programs, Palmer transferred to St. Thomas Aquinas High School in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for his final two years of high school.[1] Palmer was rated a three star recruit and initially committed to play college football at Syracuse during the summer before his senior year.[2] He finished his senior season with 32 receptions for 506 yards with eight touchdowns and was named second-team Class 7A All-State. Palmer de-committed from Syracuse and opted to sign to play at Tennessee.[3][4]
College career
Palmer played in all 12 of the Volunteers' games as a freshman, catching nine passes for 98 yards.[5] He became a starter as a sophomore and finished the season with 23 receptions for 484 yards and two touchdowns and also rushed for one touchdown.[6] Palmer caught 34 passes for 457 yards and one touchdown as a junior.[7] He finished his senior season, which was shortened to nine games due to COVID-19, with 33 receptions for 475 yards and four touchdowns.[8]
Palmer was selected by the Los Angeles Chargers in the third round (77th overall) of the 2021 NFL draft.[11] Though eligible and ranked as the #1 Canadian prospect, he was not selected in the subsequent 2021 CFL Draft.[12] Palmer signed his four-year rookie contract with the Chargers on July 23, 2021.[13]
Palmer had one catch for 17 yards in his NFL debut in Week 1 against the Washington Football Team.[14] In Week 8, Palmer recorded his first career touchdown on a 24-yard reception from Justin Herbert in a 27–24 loss to the New England Patriots.[15] Overall, in his rookie season, Palmer appeared in all 17 games, of which he started five. Palmer finished the 2021 season with 33 receptions for 353 receiving yards and four receiving touchdowns.[16]
2022
In Week 9 against the Atlanta Falcons, Palmer had eight receptions for 106 receiving yards in the 20–17 victory.[17] Two weeks later, against the Kansas City Chiefs, he had eight receptions for 106 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns in the 30–27 loss.[18] On the 2022 season, Palmer appeared in 16 games, of which he started 11. He finished with 72 receptions for 769 receiving yards and three receiving touchdowns.[19]
2023
Palmer began the 2023 season third on the depth chart behind Keenan Allen and Mike Williams. Against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 5, Palmer had five receptions for 133 yards in the 31–17 loss.[20] During a game against the Chicago Bears in Week 8, he suffered a sprain to his right knee but continued to play throughout the game. After being ruled out for the next game against the New York Jets, he was placed on injured reserve on November 5, 2023.[21][22] He was activated on December 12.[23] In his first game back, he had four receptions for 113 yards and a touchdown in a 63–21 loss to the Las Vegas Raiders.[24] He finished the 2023 season with 38 receptions for 581 yards and two touchdowns in ten games and six starts.[25]
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