Steelers' Darnell Washington Embraces New Opportunities To "Finally" Unleash His Full Talent

When the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted tight end Darnell Washington in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, excitement surrounded his potential. However, during his rookie season, Washington had limited opportunities to make an impact, being targeted just 10 times. He caught seven passes for 61 receiving yards.

Many Steelers fans recognized his ability as a blocking tight end, effectively acting as an extra offensive lineman. With the arrival of new Offensive Coordinator Arthur Smith, speculation grew about whether Washington would be utilized more in the passing game. Through four games this season, he has already tallied four receptions for 41 receiving yards and one touchdown, showing significant improvement compared to his rookie year. The excitement around him is building.

In the Steelers' recent game against the Indianapolis Colts, Washington showcased his athleticism and skill. He caught a pass and, demonstrating impressive power and agility, tossed a defender aside, sprinted past the first down marker, and then executed an incredible hurdle over another defender. This thrilling play highlighted how dangerous he can be in the passing game. 

When asked by the media about that moment, Washington admitted it feels great to finally have the opportunities to display his skills.

"When I finally did get the opportunity and I showcased a little bit what I could do. I feel like it's new for the people, but it's old for me. I feel like I have been doing that since high school." 

During the 2024 offseason, Russell Wilson spoke highly of Washington, expressing amazement at his size and athleticism. Wilson hinted that he would be targeting Washington much more this season. However, a calf injury has kept Wilson sidelined so far. In his absence, Justin Fields has stepped up, leading the Steelers to a 3-1 record.

Fields has made a concerted effort to involve the tight ends more in the offense. While tight end Pat Freiermuth has been the standout tight end in the receiving game, he has struggled in recent seasons due to an unfavorable offensive scheme. 

This year, however, Freiermuth has gotten off to a solid start, recording 17 receptions for 156 receiving yards and one touchdown through four games. Remarkably, he has already reached half of his total production from the entire 2023 season, but it's important to note that he only played in 12 games in 2023 due to injury.

It’s a welcome sign to see the tight ends becoming more involved in the offense. While the Steelers have not been heavily reliant on the passing game, that dynamic shifted when they found themselves trailing against the Colts. 

Steelers Fans Were Happy To See The Offense Fight Back

After falling behind 17-0 early, it marked the first real adversity that Fields had to face. During the 2023 season, when Pittsburgh fell behind by two scores or more, they typically struggled to mount a comeback.

Steelers fans were eager to see how the offense would respond to this challenge. Fields and his teammates rose to the occasion, putting themselves in a position to tie or take the lead on their final drive. Unfortunately, the drive ended with a botched snap, which was a disappointing conclusion. However, the silver lining was the offense's determination to fight back.

Increasing Washington's opportunities seems like a wise move, especially considering how well he has performed when given the chance. He has caught every pass thrown his way on just four targets this year, consistently making plays. With two talented receiving tight ends on their roster, it may be time for the Steelers to direct more targets Washington's way.

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