Steelers' Darnell Washington Details Exactly How He Feels About His Lack Of Involvement In The Passing Game

The Pittsburgh Steelers drafted tight end Darnell Washington in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft. Washington has been a promising prospect for the last two seasons, but many fans are curious if he can have an even greater impact in the passing attack in 2025. In his first two seasons, Washington was targeted just 35 times and caught 26 of those passes. In the 2024 campaign, he recorded a touchdown and added just 200 yards receiving, leading many to wonder if more opportunities are on the horizon.

Now entering his third year, Washington could see an expanded role, especially with veteran quarterback Aaron Rodgers expected to elevate the entire offense. Rodgers has a long history of maximizing tight end production when given the right personnel. 

Washington’s combination of size, strength, and athleticism makes him a natural red-zone threat. With the Steelers looking to become more dynamic through the air, there is growing anticipation for what Washington might be able to do with more targets.

Following Saturday’s training camp session, Washington spoke with Chris Adamski about his limited involvement in the passing game. When asked about the lack of targets, Washington made it clear that he’s very confident in his abilities as a pass catcher. While some insiders have questioned his potential in the passing game, Washington remains self-assured, noting that he’s essentially been a receiver his entire life.

"I feel like I have always been a good pass catcher," Washington said. "Going back to high school, it has been some years. I never blocked you know I was a receiver in high school. I transitioned to tight end in college and that’s when I started learning how to block was in college."

When Washington got to Georgia, Head Coach Kirby Smart decided he was going to be a star tight end for the team, and that’s exactly what happened. Washington wasn’t overly involved in the Bulldogs’ passing attack, but he was a vital piece of their overall success. 

That’s what the Steelers hoped for when they drafted him, and based on reports out of camp, he has been living up to the bill. He should be in for a big year, although whether that will show up on the stat sheet remains to be seen.

"I feel like I am always able to catch the ball it’s just kinda hard to showcase it when you are good at something else and you know you got other guys in the room that are excellent in that area," Washington said. "I just embrace my role and I am happy to be here."

The Steelers have a star-studded tight end room. In the minds of many pundits, it is the deepest and most talented group in the league. Many Steelers fans believe that to be true as well. Either way, the unit is loaded with talent, led by Pat Freiermuth, with Jonnu Smith right behind him after earning a Pro Bowl nod in 2024. Then there is Washington, who has been dominating during training camp.

Steelers Might Have Best Tight End Room In The NFL

It will be interesting to watch how the targets are split between the three tight ends. Washington had 10 targets in his rookie season and 25 in his second year. If he takes another 15-target leap in 2025, that would put him at 40 targets for the season. In this offense, Arthur Smith will need to get creative in finding ways to involve all three. Washington's role in the passing game remains one of the more intriguing questions heading into the season.

Hearing Washington speak about his mindset was exciting for Steelers fans. He is confident in his ability to contribute and believes he can make plays when given the chance. At the same time, he understands his job and knows there are other players slightly ahead of him in the rotation. Still, when called upon, Washington sounds ready to be involved in the passing attack. He has been productive when given opportunities, which is why fans are eager to see even more from him in 2025.

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