Steelers' Darnell Washington Shares The Truth About His Knee Issues

The Pittsburgh Steelers, when they drafted tight end Darnell Washington from Georgia in the third round (93rd overall) of the 2023 NFL Draft, faced concerns about his knee issues. These medical red flags were likely a factor in Washington's fall in the draft, allowing Pittsburgh to snag him as an exceptional value pick in the third round. In college, Washington played a key role in a dominant college football program, contributing significantly to their success despite not being the focal point of their passing game. His unique ability as a blocking tight end made him a standout, regularly overwhelming defenses with his physicality and athleticism.

While Washington's prowess as a blocker excited the Steelers, reports surfaced that the team was fully aware of his knee history and drafted him with the understanding that he might not see a second contract due to potential long-term durability concerns. Even with this knowledge, Pittsburgh saw enough potential in him to take the risk, given the value he presented at his draft position. Washington's imposing frame and ability to clear lanes for running backs made him an ideal fit for the Steelers’ offensive scheme, which places heavy emphasis on the ground game.

In an interview on former Steelers linebacker Arthur Moats' podcast, Washington expressed surprise about the knee issues that supposedly hurt his draft stock. He revealed that he was unaware of any significant knee problems and was shocked to learn that medical concerns had impacted his position in the draft.

"It showed a preview of [the] top best available and I'm up there," said Washington. "Like I'm 33, they have me ranked 33 top available. Then the next is like 80, so I'm like, 'D**n, I've been on the board for a long time. That's when they were like Darnell Washington, knee issues, things like that. But for me, that was a surprise because in college, I had one knee scope freshman year, but other than that, I didn't miss no games over my knees."

Washington revealed that he had no idea where the reports about his knee issues originated, as he had never experienced any significant problems with his knees during college, aside from a minor setback in his freshman year. 

He went on to explain that the rumors of serious knee concerns were completely unfounded, and there was no truth to the claims that his knees were a long-term issue.

"I did the [NFL] Combine and pro day," Washington said. "If I had two knee issues, I would've done one or the other. So I did both. I'm like, man, when I was out there running it, I ain't never had no knee [issues],' I don't know where they got that information from."

This is great news for Steeler Nation. While Washington hasn't been heavily involved in the passing game during his first two NFL seasons, he has shown flashes of his potential. In 2024, he has recorded six catches for 55 receiving yards and one touchdown through six games. 

Steelers' Darnell Washington Likely To Get More Chances With Russell Wilson

Although those numbers aren’t eye-popping, they represent an improvement over his rookie season, and his production is trending upward. With the anticipated news that Russell Wilson will be starting on Sunday, Washington is likely to see even more opportunities in the passing attack.

Wilson has been vocal about how impressed he is with Washington, which could lead to an increase in targets for the tight end. If Wilson takes over as the starting quarterback, Washington may find himself more involved in the offense, particularly in the passing game. Despite lingering concerns about his knee issues, which were a significant topic of discussion during his draft process, Washington remains unfazed. He has expressed confidence in his health and is unsure where the knee injury reports even originated.

Washington’s confidence in his physical condition and growing role in the offense provide hope that he can continue to make an impact. As the season progresses and with Wilson potentially at the helm, he could become a more integral part of the Steelers' offensive game plan.

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