Steelers' Mason Rudolph Shows Love To Darnell Washington After Dominant Performance: "He Is Hungry."

The Pittsburgh Steelers picked up a 34-12 win over the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday to improve their record to 6-4 and keep them at the top of the AFC North. The Steelers dealt with some adversity throughout the game, most notably after quarterback Aaron Rodgers was forced to exit the contest with a wrist injury. Mason Rudolph came in to relieve Rodgers and was able to lead the team to victory, but not without the help of his pass-catchers. One in particular, Darnell Washington, had arguably his best game of his three-year NFL career.

The Steelers have been known for their usage of multiple tight ends in an offense coordinated by Arthur Smith. That offensive play-calling has led to the emergence of Washington, as Smith and the Steelers have found ways to get him involved with his 6'7" and 300-pound frame. He played a major factor in Pittsburgh's win on Sunday.

With Rodgers going down early, the Steelers needed someone on offense to settle things down. Rudolph stepped in and immediately found comfort in throwing to Washington, especially over the middle. For a backup quarterback suddenly thrown into action, having a massive target who can box out defenders and fight for extra yards makes life a whole lot easier. Washington felt like a safety net for Rudolph, and fans could see the trust grow with each drive that passed.

Washington caught four passes for 67 yards, including one catch-and-run of 31 yards in the first half (when Rodgers was still in) as the Cincinnati defense simply couldn't bring him down. That play served as a spark for the Steelers' offense, and Rudolph acknowledged Washington during his postgame press conference.

"He is one of the hardest working guys. He is in there sometimes earlier than me. He takes care of his body. He is a big time stud here," Rudolph said. "He is hungry. Like any player on their first contract is to make it to their second. He's done a great job."

The Steelers drafted Washington 93rd overall in 2023 out of Georgia. His size and athletic ability screamed potential, and Steelers fans are finally starting to see that play-making ability.

Washington's gamebreaking talents are obvious, but it has just been a matter of getting him involved in the offense. In a crowded tight end room with Pat Freiermuth, Jonnu Smith, and Connor Heyward, Washington's size adds another element to make the Steelers' offense even more difficult to game plan against.

"We've got such a deep tight end room from Pat to Jonnu to Connor. Darnell adds a different element to it," Rudolph said.

Washington has seen a dramatic increase in snaps in 2025, and even though Washington didn’t put up eye-popping stats during his first two seasons, the Steelers always seemed confident that his time was coming. Coaches talked a lot about his blocking and how he could basically serve as an extra lineman, but now he is also showcasing that pass-catching ability.

Steelers fans have been begging for Washington to become a vital part of the offense, and he has started to make his impact as the season has gone on. Teams will have to start game-planning for Washington, which could potentially open up opportunities for Freiermuth, Smith, DK Metcalf, and the Steelers' rushing attack. 

Steelers Will Look To Get Washington Involved Again In Week 12

The Steelers will hit the road next week to the face one of the hottest teams in the league, the Chicago Bears. The Bears have won seven of their last eight games, including a last-second 19-17 win over the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday. 

The Bears held Vikings tight end TJ Hockenson to just 39 yards on three receptions on Sunday, but that comes a week after giving up seven receptions and 75 yards to New York Giants tight end Theo Johnson. If Pittsburgh can continue to get Washington involved, his statistics will only continue to get better, and the Steelers will continue to find success in the passing game. 

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